Virgin and Child 15th-16th century

Editor: This is Girolamo di Benvenuto's "Virgin and Child" at the Harvard Art Museums. The figures seem both solemn and tender. What can you tell me about the role this type of image played in society at the time? Curator: Well, these images weren't just devotional aids. Consider where they were displayed. Were they in public spaces, private homes, or churches? That placement significantly shaped how people engaged with them and, more broadly, the influence of the church on daily life. Editor: So, its context dictated its meaning. Curator: Precisely! And how the patronage system influenced its creation and dissemination. It prompts us to reflect on how artistic expression intertwines with power dynamics and social structures of the time. Editor: I see now how that context changes the way we view the artwork itself.