The above is my photo of “A Vanitas Still Life with a Flag, Candlestick, Musical Instruments, Books, Writing Paraphernalia, Globes, and an Hourglass” (1662) by Dutch artist Edward Collier.

On Saturday morning, I received an email offering $40 seats to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of The Winter’s Tale. I had wanted to head into Chicago soon to see (again for the first time) Henry Fuseli’s “Milton Dictating to His Daughter” (1793), which had come up in both courses I recently completed on Paradise Lost. Naturally, that would be a great opportunity to revisit Raqib Shaw’s epic work, too, so I booked the tickets and headed into the city: a trip to the Art Institute, some great Indian food, then the play — good times.