Madonna Aldobrandini c. 19th century

Editor: This is François Eugène Augustin Bridoux's "Madonna Aldobrandini" housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. There's a serene quality to the print, but something about the children feels almost… energetic, you know? What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious Madonna and Child? Curator: Oh, I love that you picked up on that tension! To me, it's a window into a timeless dialogue. The Madonna, so still, so full of a quiet knowing, against the almost frantic energy of youthful curiosity. Bridoux, he’s not just showing us a religious scene, but the eternal dance between wisdom and discovery. Don't you think? Editor: That's beautiful. I hadn't thought about it that way. It's like the Madonna is holding onto something, while the children are reaching for something more. Curator: Exactly! And isn’t that the heart of faith, of art, of life itself? I am really grateful to have discussed this with you.