S. Maria in Vivario, Frascati, Italy 19th-20th century

Curator: Denman Waldo Ross captured S. Maria in Vivario, Frascati, Italy, in this delicate pencil drawing. The work is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a hushed quality to it. The softness of the pencil work really emphasizes the building's age and the way the light hits the stone. Curator: Right. Ross was deeply interested in the historical context of architecture, often choosing subjects laden with religious and civic significance. This tower, with its Romanesque details, speaks to centuries of cultural layering. Editor: I'm struck by the visible labor. The artist's hand is so present in the varying pressure of the pencil, bringing to life the labor involved in building the structure itself. You can almost feel the weight of each stone laid. Curator: It's a fascinating intersection of artistic interpretation and architectural record. This image becomes part of the building's ongoing story. Editor: Indeed. It adds another layer to our understanding of how this church has been perceived and consumed through time. Curator: A quiet testament to the enduring power of place. Editor: Precisely, a moment captured in graphite, embodying both the physical and the temporal.