Numa Pompilius remembering the Grotto 

Editor: So, this drawing is "Numa Pompilius remembering the Grotto" by John Leech, done with pen and ink. It feels very…staged, like a theatre production. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: For me, this piece speaks to the way history, particularly Roman history, was presented and consumed in Victorian England. The choice of Numa Pompilius is interesting. He was known for his wisdom and piety, using divine consultation to establish Roman law and religious practices. But this illustration? Editor: Yes? Curator: Well, it presents him as almost comical, doesn't it? His relationship with the nymph Egeria was considered a key source of his wisdom, and you can tell with the figure here. We could see the grotto in this scene almost like a political space. Leech, known for his caricatures in Punch magazine, often used historical subjects to satirize contemporary political figures or events. Do you see any modern symbolism in it? Editor: I think that maybe this drawing uses the past to comment on the present. Was it perhaps hinting at the then current views towards the British empire and it's colonies? Curator: Precisely! Consider how the "wisdom" Numa receives from Egeria here is framed; it questions the foundations upon which political decisions are made. Leech cleverly utilizes a historical narrative to spark public conversation. Editor: That's fascinating, I would have never considered that! Seeing the humour and hidden meaning is a skill that needs a trained eye. Thanks for pointing it out. Curator: My pleasure. Analyzing art in its historical and social context always reveals more layers than initially meet the eye.