Maternal Love c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Maternal Love" by Samuele Jesi, housed in the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a print of some kind. The composition, with the mother at the center, seems very deliberate. What do you see in its structure? Curator: The artist has arranged the figures in a pyramidal structure, drawing the eye upward from the base of the composition to the mother's face, a formal device used to convey stability and harmony. Note the balance of light and shadow and how the texture creates a sense of depth. Editor: The texture is interesting. Are you saying the hatching creates depth and volume? Curator: Precisely. The density and direction of the lines model the forms and suggest the fall of light across the figures. Did you notice anything about the internal framing that holds the image? Editor: Yes, it almost looks neoclassical! I learned a lot about observing composition. Curator: Indeed, we both did. Every element of an artwork contributes to its meaning, even the frame.