Kidwelly Church, Caermarthenshire c. 1797

Curator: Thomas Girtin created this lovely watercolor titled "Kidwelly Church, Caermarthenshire." Editor: It has a gentle, unassuming presence. The colors are so muted, it almost blends into the landscape. Curator: Girtin was a master of atmospheric perspective; he evokes the Welsh countryside with remarkable sensitivity. Churches, of course, occupied an important place in British society and art. Editor: Absolutely, but notice how nature seems to be reclaiming it. The ivy is such a strong presence, softening the hard lines of the architecture. It feels like time passing, the erosion of institutions by the natural world. Curator: That's a beautiful observation. It makes you wonder what Girtin wanted to say about the role of the church, or perhaps about time itself. Editor: Perhaps it's about accepting the impermanence of things, even those structures we deem most enduring. Curator: A very poignant point to end on.