Leave III c. 16th century

Curator: This is "Leave III," an anonymous work held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a whispered secret, doesn't it? Intimate. Maybe a little stained with time... like a forgotten recipe tucked away in a well-loved cookbook. Curator: The script, in Italian, details a transaction—olive oil, specifically. Look at the elegant flourishes. Each stroke carries a certain weight, a formal yet personal touch. Editor: Oil, eh? That explains the stains! I can almost smell the Tuscan countryside. Imagine the stories this document could tell, not just of trade but of meals shared, lives lived... Curator: Precisely! It connects us to a specific time and place, a tangible link to everyday life centuries ago. Editor: I love how something so seemingly mundane can spark such vivid images. It's a reminder that history isn't just dates and battles—it's also olive oil and elegant handwriting.