Nativity 1639

Curator: This is Pierre Daret's "Nativity," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What strikes me is the sheer number of angels—they dominate the upper register, almost overwhelming the holy family below. Curator: Baroque art aimed to inspire awe, and Daret certainly achieves that here. The dramatic lighting and swirling figures contribute to that. Editor: The crumbling architecture behind the manger seems symbolic, doesn't it? Perhaps representing the old order giving way to the new. Curator: Indeed. Daret was working in a period where the Church was keen to reassert its authority, and images like this played a crucial role. Editor: The visual language is potent. Those angelic figures are both comforting and intensely powerful symbols. Curator: It's fascinating to see how Daret blends classical elements with such overt religious messaging. Editor: Thinking about the persistence of certain images, it's humbling to see how powerfully this scene resonates even now.