Study for a Relief of Winged Female Figures (Victories?) flanking a Monument; Studies for Three Vessels c. 18th century

Curator: This sheet presents Jean-Honoré Fragonard's "Study for a Relief of Winged Female Figures (Victories?) flanking a Monument; Studies for Three Vessels," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels almost ethereal. The light pencil strokes give the whole piece a sense of delicate impermanence, like catching a fleeting vision. Curator: Indeed. The central relief, depicting winged figures crowning a monument, speaks to Fragonard's engagement with antiquity and its potential for civic virtue and national aspiration. Editor: The winged figures, though, they're not just about victory, are they? They seem to embody a more profound sense of grace, of ethereal blessing or remembrance. And then there are these vessels each with its own symbolism. Curator: Precisely. We see Fragonard here grappling with forms laden with historical and cultural weight. The vessels themselves hint at rituals, sacrifice, and commemoration. Editor: It's fascinating how he blends the monumental with these intimate objects. He invites us to ponder themes of memory and the enduring power of symbols. Curator: Absolutely. Fragonard compels us to consider how images shape our understanding of history and legacy. Editor: It’s an invitation to explore those echoes from antiquity that resonate still.