Watch 1640 - 1655

Curator: Jacques Goullons, likely working sometime between 1640 and 1655, presents us with this intriguing miniature painting titled "Watch." It's rendered in tempera, a medium allowing for incredibly fine detail. Editor: It feels incredibly intimate. The delicate rendering and circular format give it the character of a keepsake. What’s going on in the image itself? Curator: Well, at the core of the image, an angel rouses a sleeping figure—Joseph, I believe—from his slumber. This would almost certainly point to it depicting a scene from the New Testament, particularly the angel warning Joseph about Herod's intentions toward the infant Jesus. These miniatures circulated through a wealthy clientele invested in the politics of devotion. Editor: That makes sense given the sensitivity to light and the elegant figures. But looking at the symbols...the angel, wings spread gently above the sleeping figure, seems an established symbol of protection and divine intervention in art. The way it touches the man—does that suggest the holy messenger entering our worldly space? Curator: Indeed. Note that the scene doesn't exist in isolation. The architectural backdrop implies a sophisticated world and lends weight to this unfolding scene. This adds another layer for understanding patronage, and it's not something that a common citizen can do easily, so the circulation is most likely among wealthy classes only. Editor: You are right. Plus, the outer design that circles the center painting looks organic with twisting foliage that frame the Biblical subject. This reminds me of works on reliquaries which suggests personal meditation and devotional intent. Curator: It emphasizes its dual nature, blending faith and high craftsmanship. We might ponder its function not just as art, but also a piece signaling political affiliations of the owners. Editor: Seeing it through those dual lenses – private devotion and very public projection of religious politics and status makes it such a compelling image. Curator: Absolutely. This artwork reflects the intense cultural milieu it came from, and it can serve as a valuable example for us to unpack history and religion.