[title not known] c. 1789

Curator: At the Tate, we have a page from Joseph Farington’s sketchbook, dating from around the late 18th or early 19th century. It's a simple sheet with handwritten notes. Editor: My first thought is, what stories do these architectural notes conceal? It’s like a treasure map to lost buildings and bygone eras. Curator: Indeed. Farington, active in the Royal Academy, used sketchbooks like this as a working record. The notes here describe different views of cathedrals, churches and castles like Gloucester Cathedral and Berkeley Castle. Editor: The handwriting itself becomes an artifact. Those notations—they conjure the cultural and social backdrop against which Farington’s artistic explorations took place. The very act of naming and recording imbued these structures with symbolic power. Curator: Absolutely. This page reflects the period's burgeoning interest in antiquarianism and landscape, and how buildings became symbols of national identity. It's a window into the cultural values attached to these sites. Editor: I find it fascinating how the sketches and notes function as mnemonic devices, sparking reflections on identity, power, and cultural continuity. Curator: A humble page, yet rich in historical and symbolic resonance.