Tivoli 

Editor: This is William Marlow's "Tivoli", a pencil drawing. There's something so delicate about the lines, but also grand in the depiction of the landscape. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Marlow, working in the late 18th century, participates in a tradition of British artists traveling to Italy and depicting its ancient sites. Consider how the image of Tivoli, with its ruins, contributed to the romantic idealization of the past within British culture. Editor: So it's less about accuracy and more about the feeling it evokes? Curator: Precisely. The drawing served a public function, reinforcing ideas about history and national identity. What feelings does it evoke in you? Editor: A sense of reverence, definitely. I see now it's part of a bigger story about British art and cultural values. Curator: Exactly. The artwork's reception is shaped by cultural expectations and historical narratives.