Saint Jerome, with Saints Christopher and Louis of Toulouse, after Bellini by Joseph Smith

Saint Jerome, with Saints Christopher and Louis of Toulouse, after Bellini

1889

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Artwork details

Dimensions
actual: 51.6 x 35.7 cm (20 5/16 x 14 1/16 in.)
Location
Harvard Art Museums
Copyright
CC0 1.0

About this artwork

Curator: This watercolor, "Saint Jerome, with Saints Christopher and Louis of Toulouse, after Bellini," really strikes me with its somber mood, almost like a faded memory rendered in soft hues. Editor: The layering of watercolor is quite evident here. Note the varying textures; it's not just paint, but labor made visible. I wonder about Smith's choice of this medium to re-interpret Bellini. Curator: Considering Bellini’s original context, how might Smith be reflecting on the power dynamics inherent in religious iconography, especially through this re-presentation? Editor: Perhaps the use of watercolor, less permanent than oil, signifies a questioning of lasting authority. It's a deliberate choice that alters the viewer's relationship to the subject. Curator: It certainly invites a contemporary lens to examine notions of faith and representation. Editor: Absolutely, it's about how the materials themselves contribute to the evolving dialogue around those narratives.

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