Madonna with the Butterfly c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Madonna with the Butterfly" by Ignazio Pavon, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. There's a butterfly in the lower center—it's so subtle I almost missed it. What strikes you most about this image? Curator: The butterfly is indeed central. Think of the soul, Psyche, represented as a butterfly emerging. It evokes resurrection and transformation, doesn't it? Notice how the Madonna gazes downward, perhaps contemplating the earthly realm, while the Christ child looks toward the butterfly, towards spiritual awakening. Editor: So, the butterfly isn't just a pretty detail; it's a symbol of the soul's journey? Curator: Precisely. The image interweaves earthly motherhood with the promise of divine transcendence through faith. Consider the butterfly's fragility; is this Pavon’s reminder of life’s fleeting nature? Editor: Wow, I hadn't considered that. It gives the image a whole new layer of meaning.