Saint Gregory of Nanzianus c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot’s “Saint Gregory of Nanzianus,” a small but mighty etching held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's intriguing. I'm immediately drawn to the oval composition—it feels like a miniature stage for some kind of profound contemplation. Curator: Indeed. Callot, working in the early 17th century, excelled at imbuing even the smallest of prints with a sense of drama and detail. Note the figures of Charity and Wisdom, and how Gregory is bathed in light. Editor: The light almost feels…internal? As if the figures are emerging from his own mind as he writes. Callot captures that feeling of inspiration taking physical form. Curator: Absolutely. He transforms the traditional religious scene into something deeply personal. This isn’t just a depiction of a saint, but of the very act of creation and the pursuit of divine knowledge. Editor: It makes me consider my own moments of trying to catch a thought and shape it into something lasting. Beautiful, really. Curator: Precisely.