Aeneas's Battles in Latium: King Latinus, Aenaes and Turnus c. 15th century

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the visual compression. It's chaotic, almost claustrophobic. Editor: This is a woodcut titled "Aeneas's Battles in Latium: King Latinus, Aeneas and Turnus," and it's located here at the Harvard Art Museums. We don't know who created it. Curator: The figures, identified as Aeneas and Turnus, are strangely doll-like, aren't they? The symbols of Laurentum looming in the background feel equally stylized. It evokes a fairy-tale quality despite the battle being depicted. Editor: It speaks to the popularization of classical stories. Woodcuts like these disseminated tales of heroism and conquest to a broader audience, shaping their understanding of history and empire. This would shape the collective imagination. Curator: The figures become stand-ins for universal themes: conflict, destiny, the clash of cultures. The simplified rendering amplifies these enduring motifs. Editor: Exactly, and that choice of visual style allows the story to resonate beyond its immediate context, echoing across time. Curator: Yes, and the way the anonymous artist chose to depict this is interesting given the epic scope of Aeneas' journey. Editor: Well, this was certainly an intriguing piece to contemplate together.