Madonna and Child c. 19th century

Curator: Before us, we have Antonio Perfetti's "Madonna and Child," held at the Harvard Art Museums. Perfetti was born in 1792 and died in 1872. Editor: It feels surprisingly intimate for a religious subject—the stark blacks and whites lend a dramatic and somewhat somber air. Curator: The image clearly draws from a very specific visual culture, and fulfills certain demands made by the Church. It's a visual argument for the divine sanctity of both mother and child. Editor: Yes, but I find it more striking how Perfetti uses light to sculpt form. The folds in the drapery, for instance, create their own abstract rhythms and tensions, independent of the figures. Curator: It’s important to remember that devotional images like these were often commissioned and served didactic purposes. The Madonna became a crucial figure of cultural power. Editor: Regardless of its cultural function, the interplay of light and shadow produces a captivating aesthetic experience. Curator: A useful aesthetic experience for the culture that consumes it. Editor: I suppose we both get what we came for.