A Standing Horse near a Horse Lying Dead 1590

Curator: This is Antonio Tempesta's "A Standing Horse near a Horse Lying Dead," a striking etching from the early 17th century, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It's… stark. The line work feels urgent, almost scratchy. It really conveys the raw vulnerability of death. The standing horse is a poignant witness. Curator: Indeed. Tempesta was known for his detailed prints, often depicting battles or hunts. Here, the context shifts. The printmaking process itself, with its reliance on metal and acid, emphasizes the tangible effort in crafting such a scene. Editor: There's a tenderness, though, despite the harshness. The living horse nuzzling the dead one… I wonder what Tempesta was feeling when he made this? Loss, maybe? Or just the brutal cycle of life? Curator: The printmaking process itself mirrors that cycle, a kind of death and rebirth as the image is transferred from plate to paper. Editor: Mmm, food for thought. I keep coming back to that living horse. So much weight in its posture. Curator: A powerful reminder of our shared materiality, wouldn't you agree?