Saint Augustine Suffering from a Toothache c. 1463 - 1465

Curator: This is Benozzo Gozzoli's sketch, "Saint Augustine Suffering from a Toothache," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite small, less than 10 by 14 centimeters. Editor: The scene feels intimate despite the crowd, a study in suffering. There’s a vulnerability in the slumped posture of the main figure that's quite compelling. Curator: The use of ink wash really draws my eye, grounding the figures. It invites us to consider the material value of the drawing itself, produced by Gozzoli in the 15th century. Editor: Note the repetition of hands throughout the composition, either raised in supplication or touching the face in pain. The toothache becomes a focal point for shared human suffering. Curator: It’s fascinating how Gozzoli uses basic materials to depict profound, even everyday suffering that links us across centuries. Editor: Indeed, the cultural memory of pain, both physical and spiritual, resonates powerfully through this small, yet affecting image. A reminder of shared human fragility.