The Pentitent, called the Sacconi 1810

Curator: This is Bartolomeo Pinelli's etching, "The Penitent, called the Sacconi," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is the chilling anonymity of these figures, their hooded faces obscuring any individuality. Curator: Pinelli's work often reflected the social realities of his time. These figures represent members of a penitential brotherhood, common in Rome, engaging in public acts of contrition. Editor: The skull, the cross adorned with what looks like a crown of thorns... classic symbols of mortality and sacrifice, creating a somber, reflective mood. Curator: Indeed. These brotherhoods played a visible role in the city's social and religious life, offering a public performance of piety during times of hardship. Pinelli gives us a glimpse into this world. Editor: It's fascinating how these visual emblems condense complex ideas about death, redemption, and collective guilt. It stays with you. Curator: It certainly gives us a view into the complex social dynamics of Rome in Pinelli’s time. Editor: Agreed, and the enduring power of symbols to stir our emotions.