Bust of Saint Susanna 1609 - 1643

Curator: Oh, she is lovely, isn’t she? This is the Bust of Saint Susanna, sculpted by François Duquesnoy. It's a marble work from the Baroque period, though some records indicate it took a while to complete between 1609 and 1643. Editor: It really is striking. There's a contemplative sadness in her posture, her gaze downcast. It's quite powerful. What I'm interested in is the choice to portray Susanna, a biblical figure known for her virtue and wrongful accusation, in such a somber, almost vulnerable way. It invites a kind of empathy, doesn’t it? Curator: It absolutely does. Susanna was quite the virtuous heroine. Duquesnoy could have portrayed her triumphantly, but that vulnerability makes it human, you know? Plus, look at the craftsmanship! The gentle curve of her neck, the soft folds of her drapery. You just want to reach out and touch it. I bet Bernini would have been a fan. Editor: I am! And I am also seeing here something about the baroque period’s interest in expressing intense emotion, yes? Perhaps it’s a conscious commentary on power dynamics, representing female virtue not as an impervious fortress but as something delicate, constantly threatened by male aggression and false narratives. The male gaze has clearly prevailed against this person. Curator: I see what you mean. But I also wonder if that inward gaze isn’t just a product of the artistic conventions of the time, you know? I mean, all those melancholic Madonnas floating around? But it is true; that tilt of her head makes it much more interesting than just a standard heroic portrait. Makes you think. Editor: Agreed. It also makes me think of our current political climate— the #MeToo movement, the countless Susannas who were publicly shamed and unfairly targeted to fit other people's stories. Curator: Wow, that's heavy. I was just thinking it was a beautiful piece of stone. I guess good art always holds a mirror up to society. Editor: Always does. And to ourselves, too.