Sketch for a Bookplate 19th-20th century

Curator: This is William Valentine Schevill’s "Sketch for a Bookplate," a pencil drawing held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It gives off a casual, intimate vibe, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. The sketchiness and the multiple portraits suggest a world of observation and perhaps even a little social commentary. The bookplate design itself, a man reading, reinforces the idea of learning. Curator: The bookplate design featuring the reading man is interesting because of the inscription "Fortiter et Recte" below it which seems at odds with the rather lazy looking lion that seems to be fast asleep. What do you make of it? Editor: I see a tension between scholarly pursuit and leisure, the "Fortiter et Recte" perhaps revealing a yearning for virtue amid the comforts of a privileged life. The surrounding portraits could be the patrons or readers who would use such bookplates. Curator: I think you are on to something, it does ask us to consider who the patron of this bookplate might be, and what kind of message they wanted to convey to others. Editor: It’s a fascinating glimpse into the cultural values of the time, revealing how intellectual pursuits were intertwined with social identity and aspiration. Curator: Indeed, a window into the past, inviting us to consider the politics of knowledge and representation. Editor: Precisely, I leave thinking about the purpose of art in revealing and shaping identity.