Reign of Numa c. 18th century

Editor: This is Giuseppe Bortignoni’s "Reign of Numa," a print from the Harvard Art Museums collection. It looks like a scene of two leaders shaking hands, but the scale of the figures against the landscape feels quite stagey. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s fascinating how Bortignoni uses this historical subject, Numa Pompilius, the legendary second king of Rome, to comment on contemporary power dynamics. Consider how the print medium makes the image accessible. What political message might the artist be conveying? Editor: Perhaps about diplomacy or alliances? I hadn't considered the print's accessibility as a form of political statement. Curator: Exactly. Think about how such imagery circulates, shaping public perception of leadership and power. Editor: I'll definitely view prints with a different lens now, considering their potential for wider social impact.