Humiliation of Vitellius 1766

Curator: Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin's rendering, titled "Humiliation of Vitellius," captures a brutal scene in pen and red chalk. It's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The chaotic composition and the stark contrast between the red chalk and the pale ground create a sense of unease, as though we are witnessing a public spectacle of violence. Curator: Note how Saint-Aubin utilizes the red chalk not just for form, but to convey emotion. Consider the laborious process of sketching and re-sketching, building up layers to reveal the gravity of the event. Editor: The central figure, Vitellius, represents the fallen emperor, stripped of his power. The surrounding figures, the jeering mob, embody the fickleness of fortune. It's a powerful symbol of transience and the consequences of ambition. Curator: Saint-Aubin clearly draws on historical accounts here, but the immediate social context would be rooted in printmaking and the popular dissemination of such imagery. Editor: It certainly reminds us of the fragility of power and the enduring human tendency towards both cruelty and admiration. Curator: Indeed. A revealing glimpse into history mediated by the materials and the artistic hand.