Turretted Cities Offering Sacrifices c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Turretted Cities Offering Sacrifices" by Gaetano Bonatti, held at the Harvard Art Museums. My first impression is of a bas-relief carving. Editor: The cross-hatching in the engraving gives it a sculptural quality, doesn't it? It makes me consider the economics of reproduction and distribution during the print era. Curator: These figures seem to represent city goddesses, perhaps symbols of power and protection, bearing votive offerings. The turrets on their heads are quite telling. Editor: Yes, and look how the folds of their garments are rendered—imitating the luxurious drapery fashionable in classical sculpture. Curator: What a complex layering of historical and symbolic references within a single image. Editor: Indeed, Bonatti's craft brings both mythology and material culture into play, each influencing the other.