Book II.46. Death of Quintius Fabilus {Primae Decadis Liber Secundus p. XX} 1493

Curator: This is an anonymous woodcut, titled "Book II.46. Death of Quintius Fabilus," found in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's stark, almost skeletal in its simplicity. The rigid lines create an atmosphere of solemn finality. Curator: The image depicts the death of a Roman figure, likely meant to illustrate a scene from Livy’s history. The men standing guard suggest a figure of authority, surrounded even in death by his power structure. Editor: Note how the repeated diagonal hatching not only establishes the ground, but also generates a visual tension, subtly disrupting the otherwise static composition. Curator: Woodcuts such as this one were critical to disseminating knowledge and shaping public perception of historical events in the early modern period. It reduces a complex narrative to its barest components. Editor: It's fascinating how the artist uses negative space to convey so much drama. It really is a very powerful statement, isn’t it?