Letter R c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have an intriguing initial, simply titled “Letter R,” by an anonymous artist, held within the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's kind of haunting, isn't it? The sickbed, the priest… it feels like a letter pulled from a gothic novel. Curator: Notice how the letter encompasses the entire scene, embedding the traditional imagery of repentance and absolution. The "R" literally contains the narrative. Editor: I love how cramped it is; it's almost claustrophobic. You have the figure reaching upward, maybe to receive absolution, but also trapped, literally and figuratively, by the weight of the letter. Curator: Yes, that confinement speaks volumes about societal constraints within a religious framework. Editor: Makes you think about the stories these initials could tell, if only letters could talk.