Vision of Ezekiel c. 17th century

Curator: Welcome. We're looking at "Vision of Ezekiel" by François de Poilly the Elder, found here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's arresting! All those figures emerging from what appears to be heavenly clouds—the lion and eagle especially. The overall effect is quite dramatic, almost theatrical. Curator: De Poilly was part of a circle making prints after master paintings for wider distribution. This print visualizes a scene from the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel. Editor: The composition definitely guides the eye upwards, doesn't it? From the winged creatures to the divine figure at the summit. The light source, too, draws us in. Curator: Absolutely. This work was created at a time when the church sought to maintain its public influence through visually impactful imagery. Prints made such imagery accessible. Editor: Considering that, the idealized bodies and the dynamic arrangement of the figures feel particularly charged with religious and cultural power. Curator: Indeed. It's a fascinating example of how art serves as a window into the religious and political landscape of its time. Editor: I agree. It's amazing how the interplay of light and form can convey so much, regardless of the original context.