Ann Channing Allston, for "The Valentine" 1809 - 1811

Editor: Here we have Washington Allston's delicate pencil sketch, "Ann Channing Allston, for 'The Valentine'," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, and the lines are so faint, it feels like a whispered secret. What do you make of this piece? Curator: It's like a dream captured on paper, isn't it? Allston's touch is so light, it’s almost as if he’s afraid of waking her. I sense a deep affection, perhaps even longing. Does her contemplative pose suggest a hidden narrative to you? Editor: Definitely. The way she's looking down, lost in thought, adds to that feeling. It's more than just a portrait, it's like a glimpse into a private moment. Curator: Exactly! Allston wasn't just sketching a likeness; he was sketching a feeling. I wonder if she ever knew how tenderly he saw her. Food for thought, no? Editor: Absolutely! I'll never look at a simple sketch the same way again.