Part of the Ruins of Lewes Castle, Sussex c. 1797

Curator: Thomas Girtin, who died very young, around 27, captured this view of "Part of the Ruins of Lewes Castle, Sussex." Editor: It has such a tentative, ephemeral quality. Almost like a memory fading, sketched in the barest of lines. Curator: Girtin’s sketch here echoes the broader societal fascination with ruins, particularly in the late 18th century, connecting to ideas of lost empires and the sublime. Editor: The architectural lines are compelling; the perspective and the framing draw the eye upward towards the imposing structure. Curator: Indeed, there's also a political reading. Castles represented feudal power, which was then crumbling—literally and metaphorically—during this period. Editor: It’s hard to believe this was only a sketch; the power of the composition makes it seem almost finished. Curator: It offers us insight into the artistic and political sentiments of its time. Editor: A glimpse into a past—both architecturally and artistically.