This undergraduate colloquium addresses a pervasive and perhaps disturbing theme in the history of western European art: The portrayal of narratives in which an infant or a small child is threatened with harm or death but then is miraculously saved at the height of the drama. Recovered through humanistic research into classical art and literature, and likewise encountered in Judaeo-Christian scripture, this thematic paradigm was especially common in 17th- through 19th -century Europe, and is still reflected in today's popular media including television and film. Colloquium participants will explore this theme, surveying its elaboration in the visual and literary arts, and developing theories about its origin, affective power and contextual purposes.