Head of a Bishop's Crosier c. 13th century

Curator: This small but intricate piece is titled "Head of a Bishop's Crosier," and it resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. The maker is, alas, unknown. Editor: It feels ancient and earthy, doesn't it? Like a fossil unearthed from some forgotten garden, a silent testament to devotion. Curator: Exactly. Notice how the unknown artist has contained the bishop within a field of stylized foliage; the crosier grounds him but also elevates him. It's a dance of earthly and divine. Editor: I love how the line of the crosier bisects the composition, drawing the eye upwards, almost like an arrow pointing to the heavens. There's something incredibly deliberate in the placement. Curator: And the way his hand is raised in blessing? It’s an invitation, a promise of grace. I find that the size belies its power; it shrinks the distance between us and something deeply spiritual. Editor: It's a beautiful reminder that even the smallest objects can contain worlds of meaning. Curator: Yes. A tiny window onto faith, history, and the enduring power of art.