Benediction 1923

Editor: This is Daniel Chester French's sculpture, Benediction, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a fairly imposing figure and the bronze gives it a solemn feel. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, that's a heavenly question! For me, it's about the gesture. Look at those outstretched hands. It's an invitation, isn't it? An offering of peace, perhaps a blessing? It makes me wonder what sort of benediction she is offering. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It almost felt more like a farewell. Curator: Or maybe it's both. Life, death, a beautiful, bittersweet embrace of the unknown. It’s stunning how a static object can hold so much. Editor: I like that idea. I'll definitely look at it differently now.