Saint Dominic Restoring a Child to Life, after Tiarini (The Roman Album) 1775 - 1780

Curator: Jacques-Louis David, that meticulous neoclassicist, sketched this quick little wash drawing, "Saint Dominic Restoring a Child to Life, after Tiarini." It's like a fleeting dream of Baroque drama. Editor: My first thought? The cost of paper in 18th-century France must have been low, given the looseness of this piece. It feels like a materials study, focusing on layering washes and economical mark-making. Curator: Indeed. The sepia wash gives it an immediate sense of antiquity, doesn't it? And look at the dynamism he captures with so few lines! Those angels practically burst from the heavens. Editor: Angels, yes, but made of pigment, binder, and a human hand wielding a brush. Think about the artisan who ground those pigments, the social economy that supported David's practice. Curator: Perhaps. For me, it's the raw emotion, the miraculous made visible. You can almost hear the collective gasp of the crowd. Editor: I hear the scratching of the pen, the quick decisions made manifest in the layering of the wash. It’s a record of labor, both physical and intellectual. Curator: You bring a perspective that always grounds me. Editor: And you, a reminder of the enduring power of narrative.