Maria Ruthven c. 19th century

Editor: So, this is Tommaso Benedetti's "Maria Ruthven", housed at the Harvard Art Museums. There's no date, but it has this almost dreamlike quality with the soft shading. How do you read the symbolism of the cupid figure? Curator: Ah, yes. Doesn’t it all feel a bit Botticelli-esque, even? I see the cupid perhaps not so much as romantic love, but maybe pointing towards some form of divine inspiration. Do you sense the contrast between the rather earthly, grounded Ruthven and the almost ethereal cupid? Editor: I do, actually. It's like she's caught between two worlds, maybe? Thanks, that adds a layer I hadn't considered. Curator: Exactly! Art is often a dance between what we see and what it whispers to our souls. Glad I could add to your interpretation.