Dido and Aeneas c. 18th century

Curator: This is "Dido and Aeneas," figures engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a stage set, a tempestuous scene frozen mid-performance. Curator: Indeed. Bartolozzi masterfully uses light and shadow, creating a binary opposition between the idyllic landscape and the dramatic embrace, evoking a sense of impending doom. The composition draws the eye to the couple, set against the backdrop of nature. Editor: There's an emotional rawness in the way their figures are rendered. The looming darkness definitely amplifies the tragic love story. I get a sense of longing mixed with desperation. Curator: Precisely. The engraving technique adds a layer of complexity. The contrast is stark, highlighting the preordained tragedy embedded in the narrative. Editor: It's funny, even knowing the story, seeing it framed this way, it stings anew. Curator: Well, there we have it. Editor: Quite.