Buried with Him by Baptism c. 1765

Editor: So, this engraving from around 1765, "Buried with Him by Baptism," is attributed to Paul Revere. The detail is remarkable for its size. The ripples in the water are kind of mesmerizing but create such a strong contrast to the figures standing at the bank. What do you make of Revere's engraving from a formal perspective? Curator: The piece reveals a fascinating tension between linear precision and the evocation of depth. Consider how the engraver used line not merely to delineate forms, but also to construct textures—the concentric circles of the river Jordan, the feathery wings of the dove representing the Holy Spirit. This creates a dynamic interplay of visual weights that draw the eye across the composition. Note the sharp distinction between the ethereal realm—suggested by the radiant light and the figures of angels—and the corporeal world represented by the massed figures and the geometric water currents. Editor: I see that the repetition of line works to create depth. But it feels a little…flat, too? Like, even though there’s detail, there isn’t a strong sense of three-dimensionality. Curator: Indeed, the flatness could be understood not as a deficiency, but as a deliberate formal choice, nodding perhaps towards medieval conventions, underscoring the spiritual rather than physical aspects of the scene. The work employs what we call 'hierarchy of scale,' with the figures of Christ and John the Baptist dominating through their central positioning and contrasting the light source with dark river features. Ask yourself: how does the inscription beneath the image work as an element within the total design? How does it interact with the depicted scene and the rays descending from the top edge? Editor: I never considered how the inscription, a textual element, visually supports the overall symbolic presentation! Now I wonder if that same relationship is at play throughout, combining into that formal reading we discussed... Thank you! Curator: It highlights how inter-reliant the components are, and such awareness, it must be added, makes one newly appreciate the value of close study.