Erasmus with the Statue of Terminus c. 16th century

Curator: Oh, this piece gives me the shivers—a beautiful, melancholic shiver. Editor: Indeed. What we’re observing is Holbein the Younger’s engraving of Erasmus with the Statue of Terminus. It’s currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: The delicate lines almost tremble on the page. Is that Erasmus’ hand resting on the head of Terminus? There's a strange intimacy to it, almost as if he's blessing the cold stone. Editor: Absolutely. Terminus, of course, is the Roman god of boundaries and endings. The image is rich in symbolism; the architectural framing suggests the constraints within which even great minds like Erasmus operate. Curator: It feels like a meditation on mortality and the limits of human endeavor, doesn't it? All that intellectual weight, yet... there's an ending for everyone. Editor: Holbein masterfully captures the tension between the timeless nature of classical ideals—represented by Terminus—and the very human reality of change and decay. Curator: It’s a poignant reminder that even the most brilliant minds eventually fade, leaving behind only echoes of their wisdom. Editor: A fitting visual memento mori from a master like Holbein.