Pesaro Madonna, after Titian 19th-20th century

Curator: I am struck by the unfinished quality, the chalky strokes that suggest a work in progress. Editor: Indeed. Here we have Denman Waldo Ross’s "Pesaro Madonna, after Titian," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Measuring approximately 35.5 by 19 centimeters, it represents Ross's engagement with Renaissance masters. Curator: I find myself drawn to the large red flag. It seems to symbolize not only victory but also the complex power dynamics at play during the Renaissance. Editor: I see the rapid execution less as lack of finish, and more as the artist drawing attention to the materiality itself; the work offers insight into the artistic processes of both Titian and Ross himself. Curator: Absolutely. The piece serves as a dialogue across centuries, highlighting how artists grapple with tradition, patronage, and evolving societal values. Editor: It makes you consider the labor involved, and how both artists contended with the expectations, and the raw physical creation of their own art. I leave with much to think about in regards to the artistic means.