[title not known] 

Editor: This drawing, by Prince Hoare, is a study of a draped figure in red chalk. It’s at the Tate. The figure seems almost spectral, like a ghost emerging from the paper. What do you see in it? Curator: I see the residue of eighteenth-century artistic training. Think about the Royal Academy Schools, where Hoare studied. Copying classical forms was central. How does this sketch reflect the Academy's role in shaping artistic taste and reinforcing classical ideals? Editor: So, you’re saying it's not just a figure study, but a product of a specific artistic system? Curator: Exactly! These academies solidified the public role of art, defining what was considered 'good' or 'appropriate.' The figure is a testament to that era's visual politics. Editor: I never thought about art schools having that kind of power. Curator: The artwork becomes a window into understanding the institutions and power structures that shaped its creation. Editor: I'll definitely look at art differently now. Curator: Me too.