Portret van schilder Giotto 1785 - 1885

Curator: It is nice to see this portrait after so long! "Portret van schilder Giotto," an engraving hailing from somewhere between 1785 and 1885 and is attributed to Carlo Rampoldi. Editor: The gentleness really strikes me. It's like a memory carefully coaxed into being. The grayscale has that effect. Curator: Engravings have such a specific kind of delicacy to them, don't they? Think about how an engraving of an older artwork operates, culturally. Editor: I guess the artist tried to convey respect to his artwork by referencing a famous italian artist from the renaissance. And yes, that soft roundness is a real key to its mood, even the shadows participate to enhance its tenderness, it gives him almost an ethereal presence. Curator: Like a holy card almost. But Giotto represents something particularly important: an innovative artistic bridge connecting the Gothic to the Renaissance. Do you see echoes of the sacred there, too? Editor: Oh absolutely, it’s bathed in the quietude, typical of holy depictions and classical images! Consider also the oval frame surrounding the portrait, resembling ancient roman coins and therefore also the ancient empire and old world. Rampoldi definitely considered all aspects. Curator: And notice Giotto’s gaze – contemplative but engaged. Perhaps Rampoldi wanted us to see him not just as a master, but as a person deeply connected to their work. Editor: The way the engraving captures that contemplative, kind gaze speaks volumes. Maybe this is a subtle lesson for all creatives: to let our humanity infuse every piece we create. Curator: It makes you wonder about the stories Rampoldi hoped to etch, alongside Giotto's image. Editor: Indeed! It makes me question if Giotto felt that same sense of hope when looking to his future.