Fac-simile of a Portion of an Altar-Picture Representing the Madonna Enthroned, Surrounded by Saints and Angels, by Fra Angelico, in the Florence Academy 1878

Curator: This is Charles Herbert’s “Fac-simile of a Portion of an Altar-Picture Representing the Madonna Enthroned, Surrounded by Saints and Angels, by Fra Angelico, in the Florence Academy,” currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The painting projects a sense of calm, despite the number of figures depicted. It feels surprisingly intimate given its subject matter. Curator: Herbert's work speaks volumes about the 19th-century art market and the desire to disseminate and possess copies of Renaissance masterpieces. The labor involved in creating such a detailed facsimile is significant. Editor: Indeed, the very act of replicating Fra Angelico reflects a deep reverence for earlier art forms, revealing how museums shape our access to, and understanding of, art history. Curator: The materiality is also noteworthy. Herbert meticulously recreated not just the image but also the look of the original panel painting. Editor: Ultimately, Herbert's facsimile offers us a window into both Renaissance artistry and the 19th century's relationship with its artistic heritage.