Conducted by an Angel 1807

Curator: John Flaxman, born in 1755, created this line engraving titled "Conducted by an Angel." It's currently held in the Tate Collections. Editor: My first thought is of walking into a dream, or maybe out of one. The stark lines give it such a surreal, ethereal quality. Curator: Flaxman was a key figure in the Neoclassical movement. The purity of line, the emphasis on classical forms, all speak to that era's artistic values. It's a rather austere take on Dante. Editor: Austere, yes, but also hopeful. That angel is practically radiating serenity. I wonder, is she leading them into the light, or away from something darker? Curator: Given the context of Dante's Divine Comedy, one could argue she is ushering them from purgatory toward paradise. The social function of such religious imagery at the time was profound. Editor: I guess in the end it's about guidance, the belief that even in the darkest times, there is a hand to lead us towards… what exactly? Maybe the answer isn't as clear as paradise. Curator: Perhaps, as a product of its time, it reflects a hope for a better social order, led by reason and virtue. Editor: Maybe it's just a reminder that even the steepest climb can become a gentle slope with a little help. I like that idea.