An Abbe; verso: A Woman's Right Leg 18th-19th century

Editor: This is Alessandro Longhi's sketch, "An Abbe," from the 18th century, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a quick graphite drawing. What can you tell us about it? Curator: The figure of the Abbe carries a specific weight. The hat, the cloak, the implied literacy with something in his hands - these are all symbols. How do they resonate or clash with our modern understanding of religious figures? Editor: I hadn't considered the hat as a symbol! So it's about contrasting the image with our expectations? Curator: Precisely. Longhi provides a glimpse of cultural memory through this figure, offering a point of continuity and divergence. What did you notice about the sketch’s mood? Editor: I felt a sense of quiet observation, almost detached. Thank you for connecting it to cultural memory. Curator: It is indeed a figure that requires reflection, thank you.