Madonna of Casa Tempi c. 19th century

Curator: Antonio Morghen, born in 1788, created this piece, "Madonna of Casa Tempi." It's currently housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has such a tender feel, doesn't it? The way they’re almost nose to nose. Curator: Absolutely. Morghen's process involved meticulous engraving, capturing the softness and intimacy of the mother and child. Consider the economy of line, the value placed on subtle gradations of tone. It was surely a laborious process, requiring a mastery of material. Editor: It's a scene everyone can relate to. The way the mother is holding her child. And the background kind of melts into the main figures, it all serves the main focus: the closeness between them. Curator: It is precisely this focus, this deliberate production, that renders it significant, moving beyond mere religious iconography into an intimate portrayal of human connection. Editor: Yes, a testament to connection that resonates across time. I'll definitely be thinking about this one for a while.