Rest in Egypt c. 16th century

Editor: This is Elisabetta Sirani's "Rest in Egypt," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts Mary breastfeeding Jesus while Joseph is resting too. What do you see in this piece in terms of its historical context? Curator: It presents an intimate scene, but within the context of religious imagery and patronage of the time. Consider the power dynamics – who commissioned it? How does it function within 17th-century Italian society, particularly the role of women artists like Sirani navigating a male-dominated art world? Editor: So the seemingly simple depiction reflects the complex societal pressures of the time? Curator: Precisely. It's about understanding how artistic expression intersects with broader social and political structures. What do you take away from that? Editor: I’m now appreciating how it can reveal so much more than just the surface image.