Detail from the "Mass at Bolsena" by Raphael c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Detail from the 'Mass at Bolsena'" attributed to August Temmel, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The composition immediately strikes me. See how the figures intertwine, creating a sense of intimacy, almost a huddle, within this limited color range? Curator: Indeed. Temmel made this drawing in the nineteenth century after Raphael's fresco. It is worth noting how reproductive engravings allowed images to circulate and influenced artistic training. Editor: The materiality is striking, the way the lines are etched into the paper, almost a dance of light and shadow. I'm intrigued by the production of this image. Curator: It's a fascinating point, highlighting the social context of art production and how copies played a vital role in knowledge transfer, thus shaping art itself. Editor: It’s quite clear that an image that was once tied to the Vatican became untethered and almost democratized through prints like these. I find that very compelling. Curator: Certainly. The labor involved in replicating such a complex fresco is considerable and says a lot about the consumption of art. Editor: It gives us a lot to think about in terms of value and access in art historical narratives.