Saint Anthony of Padua; verso: Standing Monk and Bishop 15th-16th century

Curator: This delicate sketch, attributed to the School of Raphael, depicts Saint Anthony of Padua. It's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a ghostly presence, doesn't it? The soft graphite lines give him an ethereal quality. Curator: Absolutely. The medium accentuates his role as a humble friar and powerful advocate for the poor. Editor: Saint Anthony was canonized less than a year after his death, wasn't he? It speaks to the power of the Church and the cult of saints in shaping public perception. He's holding a lily and a book, both symbols of purity and knowledge. Curator: Indeed, his sermons were renowned for their eloquence and defense of Catholic doctrine. I think this simple study hints at a deeper connection to faith. Editor: Perhaps. Or maybe it's a romanticized view, obscuring the complex power dynamics at play during the Renaissance. Curator: That's fair. Still, I find the economy of line quite moving. Editor: Yes, it's quite evocative, no matter how you frame it.