Head of Saint Jerome c. 1661

Editor: This is Bernini's "Head of Saint Jerome," a terracotta sculpture. The raw, unpolished clay gives it a very tactile and immediate presence. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: I am fascinated by how Bernini utilized the very material of terracotta to convey not just form, but also process. The rough texture, the visible marks of the sculptor's hand, these are crucial. We see labor and the act of creation, as much as we see Saint Jerome. Editor: So, you're saying the unfinished quality is deliberate? Curator: Absolutely. It challenges the traditional emphasis on the finished object, drawing attention to the means of production and the inherent qualities of the earth itself. Think about the socio-economic context; what did it mean to use such a common material for a religious figure? Editor: That's a very different way of seeing it. Thanks, I'll have to think more about that. Curator: It’s about recognizing the value in the process, the material, and the labor.