Campanile, Bondo, Italy 1886

Curator: This sketch is by Denman Waldo Ross, and it's titled "Campanile, Bondo, Italy". It's currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the texture, the almost rough quality of the paper itself. It gives the impression of immediacy. Curator: Ross was deeply involved in art education and theory. He championed ideas about pure design. It looks like he's captured an Italian bell tower within its rural context. Editor: Yes, you can almost feel the chalk dust, and the quick hand. It's not a polished piece, but an exploration of form. I imagine him outside, quickly capturing the stone and the surrounding landscape. Curator: And bell towers like this were often civic symbols. They marked places of gathering, of community identity, in those small towns. Editor: It's lovely to see how the materials—the paper and chalk—contribute to the story, suggesting both the hand of the artist and the permanence of the tower itself. Curator: Absolutely, the image invites us to consider the role of such structures within the social fabric of these communities. Editor: Indeed, this little sketch offers a glimpse into the intersection of art, labor, and the built environment.