Study of the Head of Octavia in "Virgil Reading the Aeneid to Augustus" c. 1812

Curator: This drawing, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, is Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres' Study of the Head of Octavia in "Virgil Reading the Aeneid to Augustus." Editor: It's striking how the ochre paper almost glows around the figure, lending a dreamlike, melancholic aura to Octavia's face. Curator: Indeed. Ingres’ meticulous handling of line and shadow really emphasizes the material presence of the subject, particularly the paper. Considering this as a study, it really offers insight into Ingres' working process. Editor: The upward gaze and gently parted lips--they speak to vulnerability, the prophetic weight of Virgil’s words falling heavily. One can almost feel her internal struggle mirroring the epic's tragic themes. Curator: And we must remember the larger context. Ingres, working in the 19th century, was deeply engaged with Neoclassicism, a movement which often looked to classical antiquity for models of virtue and civic duty. Editor: A poignant look into the enduring power of symbols to evoke pathos. Curator: By engaging with the labor, materiality, and the very methods behind its creation, we can find new understandings. Editor: Contemplating these images allows us a rare glimpse into cultural memory.