Ludovisi Muse and Farnese Flora c. 17th century

Curator: This drawing presents us with studies of two classical sculptures, the Ludovisi Muse and the Farnese Flora. Though the artist is unknown, the work is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: The sketches feel so preliminary, almost ghostly. I’m drawn to the depiction of drapery and its textures, which looks incredibly complicated and skilled. Curator: Indeed, classical sculptures like these were often read allegorically, embodying virtues or aspects of civic life. It’s fascinating to consider how they operated within a larger visual language. Editor: Thinking about the labor—the artist spending time rendering these in painstaking detail. It makes me consider the value placed on classical forms and their reproduction in the 18th century. Curator: And how the understanding of gender and power dynamics informs our reception of these idealized female forms. What does it mean to endlessly recreate these images? Editor: It really highlights the craft involved, especially when we think about how these sketches were circulated as models for further artistic production. I see the seeds of reproduction already at work here. Curator: I'm left pondering the sculptures' enduring relevance. Editor: I'm thinking about how the labor involved in their creation remains largely invisible to us now.