Four Horses Drawing a Chariot (The Roman Album) 1775 - 1780

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the sheer kinetic energy captured in such simple lines! It feels like barely contained chaos. Editor: Indeed. This spirited sketch, "Four Horses Drawing a Chariot," is by Jacques-Louis David. It is part of his Roman Album, housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: David's known for these crisp, classical scenes, but there's a looseness here, a raw energy that I don't always associate with him. It almost feels like he's channeling something primal. Editor: Perhaps reflecting on the power dynamics embedded within classical narratives? The chariot, a symbol of Roman authority, is pulled by these magnificent, untamed animals. It's a visual tension worth unpacking. Curator: Absolutely, and it begs the question, who is truly in control? Are the drivers guiding the horses, or are they merely passengers in this rush of raw power? Editor: It's a study in contrasts, an exploration of the wild within the structured. Makes you think, doesn't it? Curator: It does, and that's what makes it so captivating.