St. Herbert's Chapel c. 19th century

Curator: Henry Le Keux's "St. Herbert's Chapel," held here at the Harvard Art Museums, presents a delicate scene. It feels almost dreamlike, doesn't it? Editor: Yes, it does. I immediately notice the careful rendering of light on the water and the chapel itself. The printmaking process really emphasizes the texture of the stone. Curator: Le Keux was quite the master of engraving. The lines are so fine. I'm thinking of the labor involved in creating such a detailed image, the tools and the skills. Editor: Absolutely, and think too of the social context. A chapel rendered as this sublime ruin, it evokes notions of religious authority. Who would have commissioned this piece? Curator: Perhaps someone wanting to tap into the romanticism of the time. It is a little melancholy. Editor: It gives us much to reflect on, from craft to society. Curator: Precisely. A small image, but packed with history and making. Editor: It certainly is!