Quivi Trovammo c. 19th century

Curator: Let's turn our attention to John Ruskin's rendering titled, "Quivi Trovammo," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The skeletal forms immediately suggest vanitas, a memento mori. It’s a very stark image, considering Ruskin's other works. Curator: Indeed, the skeletal reptile is placed precisely in the center, its form echoed and amplified by the swirling lines of the landscape. Notice how the composition draws the eye directly to the creature's spine. Editor: It certainly evokes images of dragons and ancient mythical sea monsters. The piece could be seen as a meditation on time, on the layers of geological memory. Curator: Or perhaps a study of the natural form reduced to its essence. The linearity is masterful. Editor: Well, whatever its intention, the image lingers, provoking thoughts of mortality and enduring symbols. Curator: A thought I share. It offers much to contemplate from both aesthetic and symbolic perspectives.