Bishop Holding a Crozier 1805 - 1824

Curator: Oh, he looks a bit severe, doesn’t he? A stern bishop peering right through you. Editor: Indeed! This is Jacques-Louis David’s "Bishop Holding a Crozier," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a pencil sketch, quite small actually. Curator: I'm struck by how David captured the weight of authority with just a few lines. You can practically feel the starch in his robes. The grid lines remind me of how art serves power, a tool of control. Editor: Absolutely, the figure's imposing presence is emphasized by his attire and the crozier, symbols steeped in religious and temporal power. Curator: Still, there's a vulnerability there too, a human quality amidst all the regalia. Editor: I agree; perhaps David aimed to explore the complexities of power, not just its surface. Curator: Food for thought on the ever-changing image of institutions. Editor: Precisely, a timeless question.