Ariadne, after antiquity c. 1774

Curator: This is Nathaniel Marchant’s “Ariadne, after antiquity.” It's an intaglio, so a design carved into a small, delicate stone. Editor: It feels like a whisper. So small and subtle, it almost disappears. The image is quite faint, yet the classical pose comes through. Curator: Marchant was a celebrated gem engraver. Consider the labor involved—the precision needed to carve this tiny scene of Ariadne into such hard material! Editor: Imagine holding her grief in your hand. Marchant takes this grand story of abandonment and reduces it to something intimate, portable, like a secret. Curator: Indeed. To me, it speaks of craftsmanship and the enduring power of classical narratives. Editor: Yes, a precious token, shaped by skilled hands, that contains a world of emotion.