Four Members of the Cornaro Family c. 1647 - 1649

Editor: Here we have Bernini's terracotta relief, *Four Members of the Cornaro Family*, at the Harvard Art Museums. The material, terracotta, gives it such an immediate, earthy feel. What can we gather from his choice of material? Curator: The terracotta itself speaks volumes. Bernini, known for his opulent marble sculptures, chose a humble material here. Terracotta's inherent fragility and its use in preliminary models reveal the process of creation, shifting our focus to labor and the conditions of artistic production. Editor: So it's less about the end product and more about the act of making? Curator: Precisely. Consider terracotta's accessibility compared to marble. How does this democratization of material challenge the traditional hierarchy between high art and craft? Editor: That reframing gives me a lot to consider about the piece and Bernini's wider practice. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Materiality shapes meaning.