Virgin and Child Appearing to Saint Paul 1612 - 1675

Editor: Here we have "Virgin and Child Appearing to Saint Paul," created sometime between 1612 and 1675 by Micco Spadaro. It's an ink drawing on paper, currently residing at the Met. I’m struck by the immediacy of the lines. It feels like a fleeting vision captured in a flurry. What catches your eye? Curator: Ah, Spadaro. He throws us right into the heart of the divine encounter, doesn’t he? That furious hatching gives everything a vibrant, almost frantic energy. Look at how Paul seems rooted to the spot, bewildered! Makes you wonder what celestial symphony is blasting in his ears at that very moment. Does it read as Baroque to you, or something else? Editor: Baroque, certainly, but a very raw version of it. Less pomp, more...panic? It makes me think about the psychological impact of religious visions, the sheer overwhelming power of them. Curator: Exactly! It is like the baroque but without the sugar coating. And think of Saint Paul— converted in a moment, just like that. Does this drawing make you wonder if he felt suddenly in touch with himself and the Divine, or suddenly disconnected? Is it beautiful or terrifying? Editor: Definitely both! The more I look at it, the more the chaos resolves into something profound. The Virgin and Child almost seem to be bursting into his reality, totally upending his understanding of the world. Curator: It is more than just "looking," eh? These aren't just lines of ink on paper. This is raw humanity bumping up against the vast unknown! I'm reminded of a quote by Flannery O'Connor: " You have to push as hard as the age that pushes against you". It applies here, dontcha think? Editor: It really does! The rawness reflects the intensity of belief in the face of a changing world. I'm not sure I'll ever see Baroque art the same way again. Curator: Good! Maybe art should hurt a little bit, force us to confront the contradictions and complexities. It should do the same for our view of ourselves!