Basilica of St. Sebastian, Rome, Italy c. 20th century

Curator: Here we have Kenneth John Conant’s sketch of the Basilica of St. Sebastian in Rome. What strikes you first about this image? Editor: It feels like a whisper of a building—delicate, almost tentative. Like an architect’s dream, not yet fully formed. Curator: The basilica itself is laden with symbolic weight, especially concerning themes of martyrdom and perseverance. Do you pick up on those here, or is it too ephemeral? Editor: I think the delicacy lends itself to that—the impermanence of life. The basilica stands, but the drawing reminds us everything fades. Curator: That’s beautifully said. It reminds me that symbols aren’t just static; they are constantly being reinterpreted through time. Editor: Exactly! A sketch holds its own power. It’s not the thing itself, but a reflection, a conversation. Curator: Well, now I’ll never look at sketches the same way again! Editor: Good. That's the point of art, right?