Funeral torch c. 1720

Curator: This striking object, "Funeral Torch," dates back to around 1720. It’s an anonymous work currently housed here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, crafted from wood. What strikes you immediately? Editor: The macabre elegance! It’s hard to miss that skeletal figure. The Baroque opulence clashes intriguingly with its rather bleak symbolism. Is that an allegory I see? Curator: Exactly! Baroque pieces like this aren't just ornamental. Consider the production—wood transformed, shaped, and gilded, likely by multiple hands, not all of whom enjoyed the same level of social prestige. What stories would the craftspeople tell about the societal roles represented? The skeleton and its torch definitely speak to memento mori, constant reminders of death’s inevitability. Editor: The skeletal figure holding what seems to be an escutcheon begs questions around identity and power structures too. Were such torches actually used, and what role did the anonymous artist serve within these social rituals? Also, how does the message of fleeting earthly status intersect with gender and race when displayed? Curator: That’s it exactly, and how might this object, made for and viewed by privileged societal elites, impact the working class, given that these laborers, many anonymous, are making it? Was its symbolism intended as a lesson for those beyond this circle, especially when these funerals and ceremonies became carefully controlled political events? Editor: Considering our current moment, and recent histories, it challenges the dominant narrative of societal "progress", instead offering critical commentary. Curator: Indeed. I'm struck by how much closer the past often is. Editor: It serves as a potent reminder of life's temporality, prompting introspection about legacies and justice.