1/ Here's a painting by the Dutch mannerist Cornelis van Haarlem. It's called The Monk and the Nun and dates from 1591. When you first see it, you think: sexist and puerile. Regular readers will know that I like mannerism. I like its difference. But what's fascinating here...

2/ .. is the light the picture throws on our tendency to assume the worst. It's not actually a sex scene. What's happening is that a nun in a convent has been accused of lax morality and having a baby. So the priest is squeezing her breast to see it milk comes out. It doesn't....

3/ ... Instead, there's a spurt of communion wine from her breast that proves her innocence and confirms the sanctity of the eucharist. Hence the still-lifes on the table and especially the glass of .red wine. In other words: Don't project your own shit onto the past.