Charity c. 1635 - 1636

Curator: This is Jacques Blanchard’s "Charity," a pen and brown ink wash drawing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a fairly small work, only about 19 by 21 centimeters. Editor: It feels very light and airy, almost like a fleeting vision. I like the simple palette of browns and creams. Curator: Blanchard, active in the early 17th century, often depicted allegorical scenes like this, reflecting the era’s values through classical or religious themes. Notice how Charity, the mother, is the visual anchor. Editor: Right, she's grounded, solid, while the children are all movement and reaching. It makes me think about the push and pull of motherhood, this desire to nurture alongside the constant activity of little ones. Curator: And the way the composition guides our eye—from the mother to the children, then upward into the hazy background. It creates a sense of depth and continuity. Editor: It is a tender snapshot, even unfinished. You can feel the love, despite the minimal detail. I am truly touched. Curator: I agree. Blanchard captures an intimate moment using what was, at the time, a popular visual language of familial love.