We have a box that we keep back in the Woodson’s vault that holds several items that were in Dr. Lovett’s desk when he died. I just shot a video with Brandon about it this morning so I’m not going to say too much about it right now. But there was something in there that didn’t make it into the film but still caught my attention and then held it for most of the day, even as I went about my regular business. There was a single photograph inside a small envelope that I hadn’t noticed before. Here it is:
I think it’s beautiful. The large palms glimpsed through the ornate cloisters seem exotic and mysterious to me. Dr. Lovett must have loved it too, because he wrote something on the back of the envelope that held it: “Keep. The photograph came from [Rice Professor of French] Mr. Moraud, who is seeking the negative from the foreign visitor who made it. 11 June 1939.” It was still in his desk in 1957.
Bonus: The sundial is back! Remember this? Well, here we are today:
I’m not sure it’s all properly aligned and so forth, plus I can’t help but note that the tip and tail of the arrow aren’t there, but I have to say it really looks good. I do wonder about the zodiac sign for June, though, which to the untrained eye looks quite a bit more like a lobster than a crab.
