The Death of Phaeton 1606

Curator: What a chaotic scene, a swirling mass of bodies and terrified horses. Editor: Indeed. This is Antonio Tempesta's "The Death of Phaeton," located here at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: The dense cross-hatching really heightens the sense of drama. See how Tempesta uses the line to create volume and movement? It's almost baroque in its intensity. Editor: Well, Tempesta was creating this during a time of religious and political upheaval. This image would have certainly resonated as a cautionary tale about unchecked power, and the consequence of defying divine order. Curator: I see the story reflected in the distribution of light and dark, too. The figures are caught in a chiaroscuro, symbolizing the fall from grace. Editor: It's a dark message, captured in a surprisingly small space. Quite powerful. Curator: A compelling convergence of form and content. Editor: I agree, there is much to contemplate here.