Cavalry Guards 1742

Curator: This is Jean Moyreau's "Cavalry Guards", housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The print offers us a glimpse into the life of soldiers, or rather, their down time. Editor: It feels more like a snapshot than a grand depiction of war. Look at the soldiers lounging around, seemingly more at ease than at battle. I wonder what stories those clouds could tell if they could talk. Curator: That's interesting, because clouds in art are so often associated with divine presence, or impending doom. But here, they're just, as you said, lounging too. Almost reflecting the state of the guards. Editor: Exactly. And you see the horses are the same. Patiently waiting. Perhaps the artist is reminding us of the quiet moments that fill most lives, even those of soldiers. Curator: It really is the quiet moments that make us who we are. Editor: A moment of peace and reflection found within the chaos of it all.