Tobias and Three Archangels, after Botticini 1899 - 1900

Curator: This is George Hawley Hallowell's "Tobias and Three Archangels, after Botticini", held at the Harvard Art Museums. The dimensions are roughly 40 by 46 centimeters. Editor: Oh, it feels dreamlike, almost faded. The figures seem to float rather than walk, like apparitions. The colors, though muted, have a warmth to them. Curator: Hallowell’s piece is a response to Botticini, so understanding the original’s socio-cultural context—religious art patronage in Renaissance Italy—offers insight. The labor involved in replicating such imagery speaks to its continued value. Editor: True, but I find myself drawn to the softer edges, the way the light catches the angels' wings. There's a real tenderness in how Tobias is guided; it evokes a sense of protection and hope. A world in sepia! Curator: Indeed, by engaging with and reformulating established artistic conventions, Hallowell's work provides an opportunity to reconsider the ongoing commodification and interpretation of art history. Editor: Ultimately, I leave with the feeling of having witnessed a sacred journey, a quiet miracle unfolding.