Persian Sibyl 1782

Curator: Here we have John Skippe’s “Persian Sibyl,” a print held within the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you? Editor: It's austere, isn't it? The cool blue tone, the cross-hatching. It feels less like a glimpse into prophecy and more like a diagram. Curator: Indeed. Skippe's technique emphasizes line and form. Notice how the drapery and the figures behind the sibyl create a complex interplay of light and shadow, almost a stage set. Editor: A diagram, maybe a blueprint for a play about fortune telling! She’s peering at her lines; everyone is waiting. You know, I rather like this interpretation. Curator: A compelling reading! It underscores the performative aspect, that the sibyl's role is, in effect, theatrical. Editor: It’s always refreshing to see an artist’s mark presented with such clarity. It gives me hope. Curator: As it should.