Plate I c. 17th century

Editor: This is "Plate I" by Francesco Curti, and it's held at the Harvard Art Museums. The way the light catches the fabric… it gives her face such depth. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The gaze, right? She's looking just past us, into something unseen. It feels less like observation, more like contemplation, wouldn't you agree? Those lines are all whispers, guiding us to understand her inner world. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It's more than just a portrait, then? Curator: Oh, absolutely! Curti gives us a soul searching, not just a face. Think of the old masters, capturing a moment of divinity in everyday life. Maybe, just maybe, that’s what Curti was after too. Editor: Wow, I’ll definitely look at it differently now! Curator: That's the magic, isn't it? Art remakes our sight.