May: A Hunt 1599

Curator: We're looking at "May: A Hunt" by Antonio Tempesta, created sometime between 1570 and 1630, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's wonderfully busy! Feels like a glimpse into a Renaissance fair—all those figures, animals, and the building tucked into the landscape. Curator: Tempesta was known for his battle scenes and hunting scenes. This etching, part of a series representing the months, shows a May Day celebration intertwined with aristocratic hunting. Editor: The hunting is subtle, almost secondary. It's like the joy of the season is taking center stage—music, courtship, and all sorts of social interactions happening. Curator: Precisely. Notice how the artist juxtaposes the leisure activities of different social classes, blurring the lines between labor and recreation. Editor: I get a real sense of community—everybody's got a role, everybody's connected in this spring awakening. A little chaotic, maybe, but beautifully so. Curator: Indeed, it highlights how art provides insight into historical social practices, hierarchies, and changing cultural values, such as these celebrations of both hunt and the season of May. Editor: For me, it’s the vitality and connection that stand out. You can almost hear the music and feel the energy of that long-ago spring.