Christ Teaching His Disciples, and Holding a Child 

Editor: Here we have Thomas Stothard's "Christ Teaching His Disciples, and Holding a Child." It's quite small, done on paper, presumably a study for something larger? The figures seem very classical, even idealized. What stands out to you about the materials and process used here? Curator: It is the scale, as you noted, and the use of watercolor wash that intrigues me. Mass production of prints in the 18th and 19th centuries popularized biblical scenes, making them newly accessible commodities. How might Stothard's choice of a more "intimate" medium—watercolor, typically associated with amateur or "feminine" art forms— challenge the increasingly commercialized religious imagery of the time? Editor: That's a fascinating point! So, the medium itself becomes a commentary on the industrialization of religious art? Curator: Precisely! It suggests a deliberate move away from mass-produced piety. I wonder, does this small work elevate the importance of the original craft? Editor: It certainly gives me a new appreciation for the artistic labor involved. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Examining the materiality provides invaluable insight.