Gallery Talk: Flesh and Fabric—New Light on a Crucifixion by Pietro Lorenzetti

This event does not require registration; see further details below.

Although the works of Pietro Lorenzetti (1280–1348) rank among the most famous of the 14th century, one of his panels, a small Crucifixion in the Harvard Art Museums, has remained largely overlooked, despite its unique imagery. Combining three temporal horizons—past, present, and eschatological future—this panel grants precedence to Clare of Assisi over Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order. Probably created for a nun, Lorenzetti’s painting turns abstruse allegory into a vehicle for a self-conscious meditation on the power of painting itself.

In his gallery talk, Harvard professor Jeffrey F. Hamburger will explore the historical context of this panel as well as the subtleties of Pietro’s painting technique and iconographic imagination, enriching our understanding of one of the most innovative artists of the Trecento.

After the talk, visit the shop inside the Harvard Art Museums to check out Professor Hamburger’s new book, Flesh and Fabric: The Raiment of the Passion in a Crucifixion by Pietro Lorenzetti, published by Officina Libri.

Led by:
Jeffrey F. Hamburger, Kuno Francke Professor of German Art & Culture, Department of History of Art and Architecture, Harvard University

Please check in with museum staff at the Visitor Services desk in the Calderwood Courtyard to request to join the gallery talk. Talks are limited to 18 people and are available on a first-come, first-served basis; no registration is required.

The Harvard Art Museums offer free admission every day, Tuesday through Sunday. Please see the museum visit page to learn about our general policies for visiting the museums.

The Harvard Art Museums are committed to accessibility for all visitors. For anyone requiring accessibility accommodations for our programs, please contact us at am_register@harvard.edu at least 48 hours in advance.