Saint Florent c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Saint Florent," a small etching no larger than your palm, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a strangely serene quality for such a busy composition; the saint looks almost at peace amidst the wild animals. Curator: Callot created many such prints, often disseminated widely to reinforce religious and political ideals. Consider how imagery serves the Church’s public role. Editor: It’s interesting that Saint Florent is depicted here surrounded by untamed nature, a symbol perhaps of masculine dominion, religious authority taming the wild. Curator: Precisely, and also a way to address complex questions of faith and man's relationship to both the natural and the divine through visual storytelling. Editor: Right. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple images can carry multiple layers of meaning.