Cosimo de' Medici c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Antonio Perfetti's portrait of Cosimo de' Medici, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a stately image, isn't it? Editor: He looks like he's deciding whether to sign a really bad contract, I don't know why, the atmosphere is so heavy. Curator: Note the careful rendering of texture and form, particularly in the fur trim and the intricate details of his garments. The semiotic weight here seems almost palpable. Editor: It's funny how the artist managed to suggest a quiet tension just through the angle of his gaze and the set of his jaw. Curator: Indeed. It is the mastery of capturing the subject's psychological depth, I think, that sets this work apart. Editor: Definitely a snapshot of power caught in a moment of deliberation. It makes you wonder what was on his mind. Curator: A thought-provoking work, technically refined and rich in historical resonance. Editor: Precisely, it’s hard to look away, he seems ready to talk to you.