Philip Yorke c. 18th century

Editor: This is Francesco Bartolozzi's "Philip Yorke," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so sentimental, like a snapshot of childhood innocence. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: It's interesting to consider how Bartolozzi, an engraver, disseminated images of elite children like Philip Yorke. How did this imagery function in constructing ideas of class and childhood in the public sphere? Editor: So it’s more than just a cute picture, it's a statement? Curator: Precisely. These images played a role in shaping social perceptions and hierarchies. Notice how Yorke's connection with nature and animals reinforces an ideal of pastoral gentility. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: It reveals how art is always embedded in social and political narratives.