Vittoria Colonna c. 19th century

Curator: This is Ernesta Bisi's portrait of Vittoria Colonna, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The soft tones give it a quiet, contemplative feel. Editor: The textures created through line engraving are so interesting here—the way the veil's folds gather and fall. I wonder about the economics of portraiture at the time and how a piece like this may have circulated. Curator: Colonna was a significant figure in the Renaissance, known for her poetry and intellectual circle. Bisi's choice to portray her in profile, with such serene dignity, speaks to her esteemed status. Editor: Absolutely. And the way Bisi, a female artist, engages with representing Colonna—how were the politics of visibility and representation at play? Curator: That's a key point. It is fascinating to examine the intersections of gender, class, and artistic production in this work. Editor: A fascinating look into the social context of the piece. Curator: Indeed, seeing beyond the surface reveals much. Editor: Precisely. There's always another layer.