Putto and Dolphin, after Verrocchio 1886

Editor: This is Joseph Smith’s "Putto and Dolphin, after Verrocchio," a delicate pencil drawing. There's a tentative quality to the lines, like the artist is feeling his way through the form. What catches your eye? Curator: It's precisely that tentative quality that delights me! Smith isn’t just copying Verrocchio; he’s engaging in a visual conversation, almost a dance. The putto seems to be caught mid-prance, wings aflutter, as if about to leap off the page. It feels less like a finished statement and more like a fleeting thought, doesn't it? Editor: I see what you mean! It's like a glimpse into the artist's process. Curator: Exactly! It's a reminder that art isn’t just about the final product, but the journey of creation itself.