Head of a Saint 

Curator: Giles Hussey, born in 1710, sketched this study titled "Head of a Saint," currently residing here at the Tate. Editor: I'm immediately struck by the raw, almost frantic quality of the lines and the limited palette. It feels less about divinity and more about capturing a fleeting human expression. Curator: Considering Hussey’s interest in harmonic proportion, can we see the work as an exploration of idealized beauty through the lens of his era’s societal and spiritual values? Does the title clash with the sitter's knowing gaze? Editor: Perhaps the "saint" here refers to the process of rendering itself. Look at how the red chalk bleeds into the paper, how the density of the marks create form. It's about labor, not necessarily reverence. Curator: It’s intriguing to think about how gender and class might intersect within the understanding of piety during the 18th century, influencing Hussey’s artistic choices here. Editor: Whether saint or not, Hussey masterfully explores the possibilities held within such humble materials. Curator: It opens up possibilities for discussing changing ideals. Editor: Indeed.