Giustiniani Faun and Borghese Indian Bacchus c. 17th century

Editor: This is a drawing of the Giustiniani Faun and Borghese Indian Bacchus, artist unknown, but currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. They seem to be studies of classical sculptures. What's interesting to you about the way they're presented here? Curator: Well, these drawings function as documents of taste and collecting practices. How were classical sculptures perceived and valued in the period when these drawings were made? The inscription tells us these were part of specific collections. What does it mean to copy, to disseminate images of classical sculpture this way? Editor: So, it's less about the figures themselves and more about how they were received and shared? Curator: Exactly. These drawings circulated ideas about ideal male forms, but also about the cultural capital associated with owning or studying such artifacts. How do you think these drawings contributed to the broader understanding of antiquity? Editor: It makes you think about the power of images and how they shape our perception of history and art. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. There's always a politics to imagery, isn't there?