Tripod with three naked boys standing upon a pedestal supported by lions' feet (fol. g recto) 1499

Curator: This intriguing little engraving, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Tripod with three naked boys standing upon a pedestal supported by lions' feet." Editor: Well, it certainly grabs your attention! The stark black lines create a rather whimsical, unsettling feeling. It's such a strange composition. Curator: The anonymous artist clearly had an interest in classical forms. The tripod, the lions' feet, and even the stylized figures evoke a sense of ancient grandeur. We might consider the materiality of printing practices for book illustrations at this time. Editor: Yes, but what's with the children? They seem so burdened and also so nonchalant. This combination of levity and labor creates a really unsettling juxtaposition. I can't help but wonder what sort of labor these boys symbolize, or how the final product was made. Curator: Perhaps this image reveals anxieties about the idealization of youth under aristocratic production or patronage? Editor: A fascinating, slightly disturbing piece. It leaves so much to ponder. Curator: Indeed, a small image that provokes big questions!