Angel with the Crown of Thorns c. 1668

Curator: Here we have Gian Lorenzo Bernini's terracotta sculpture, "Angel with the Crown of Thorns", currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The angel's expression strikes me. It’s a poignant blend of sorrow and resignation. Curator: Bernini was a master of conveying emotion. This angel, holding the crown, was originally intended for the Ponte Sant'Angelo, commissioned by Pope Clement IX. Editor: It’s fascinating to consider the material. Terracotta lends a certain earthiness, contrasting with the divine subject. How did the process influence its reception? Curator: The terracotta suggests a study piece, revealing Bernini's process. The final marble angels reflected papal power, but this conveys a more intimate, human response to suffering. Editor: The rawness certainly changes the dialogue. It makes you think about the angel's labor, its construction, the very physicality of faith. Curator: Indeed. The angel, even in this state, prompts reflections on art's public role in mediating faith. Editor: It feels so immediate. This material really gets to you. Curator: Yes, the angel's immediacy underscores the complex interplay between artistic creation, religious devotion, and social influence. Editor: A good reminder that even heavenly figures have a material history.