Child Entrusted to Chiron c. 1660

Curator: Here we have Claude Lorrain's "Child Entrusted to Chiron," a drawing of modest dimensions, roughly nine by five inches. Editor: It feels both dreamy and unsettling. The sepia tones give it an antique quality, like a faded memory. Curator: Lorrain, active in 17th century Rome, often explored classical mythology, but through the lens of landscape. The red chalk allowed for fine detail but also rapid execution. Editor: I love the idea of quickly capturing this kind of scene! I’m mostly struck by the implied vulnerability of the child being handed off. The figures aren't exactly joyful. Curator: We should consider the social context of artistic training. The handing off of children reflects systems of patronage, labor and skill development, perhaps commenting on apprenticeship, or even class structure. Editor: I see that, but it also evokes a timeless feeling of parental anxiety. I can’t help but feel the quiet drama between the figures. Curator: These drawings offer insight into the artistic process and the structures that supported it. Editor: And I think they remind us how universal some feelings really are.