The Church 1807

Curator: This is John Flaxman's "The Church", held in the Tate Collections. It presents three figures in a linear, almost neoclassical style. Editor: It feels austere, a bit like a blueprint for faith, doesn't it? Clean lines, but strangely detached. Curator: Flaxman was deeply involved in the neoclassical movement, valuing simplicity and order. He also contributed designs for Wedgwood pottery, reflecting the era's industrial expansion. Editor: Interesting. It strips away the baroque excess, but at what cost? Where’s the human messiness, the struggle? It feels… curated, in the modern sense. Curator: It certainly evokes a sense of controlled representation. We can consider how Flaxman's artistic choices reflect the changing social and religious landscapes of his time. Editor: I see your point. It's a statement about the power of ideals, I suppose. Still, I prefer my saints with a bit more grit. Curator: That's a perspective I value. This artwork invites us to consider the diverse ways in which religious authority is visually constructed. Editor: A thought-provoking work, then, even if it does leave me a tad cold.