David Entrusts a Letter to Uriah 

This is a page from a Book of Hours, illuminated by the Limbourg brothers in the early 15th century. Our attention is immediately drawn to the bright, contained scene to the right of the text. The brothers use saturated colors, setting ochre and blue against a light grey backdrop, the figures arranged to draw our eye to the letter itself. The use of line here is critical. Note how the rigid lines of the architecture create a defined space, in contrast to the implied depth of the figures; this creates a tension between the flatness of the page and the illusion of three-dimensionality. This tension serves to emphasize the act taking place: an exchange that is both intimate and consequential. The composition invites a semiotic reading, encouraging us to consider the power dynamics at play. The king hands the letter down to Uriah who kneels, which is not merely a narrative device, but a careful construction that reflects the social and moral structures of the time. It's a moment laden with meaning, presented with remarkable formal precision.