A Castle Tower 

John Sell Cotman made this watercolor of a castle tower in the early 19th century. It reflects the growing interest in medieval ruins during the Romantic era. Think about what these ruins represented in British society at the time. Cotman captures the romantic ideal of nature reclaiming what was once a symbol of human power. This aesthetic fascination aligned with a broader cultural sentiment, which was a contemplation of the past and a critique of modernity. The crumbling tower can be seen as a metaphor for the decline of feudal systems and the rise of industrial society. Artists played a key role in shaping public perceptions of history and national identity. Institutions like the Royal Academy influenced artistic taste and the market for landscape painting. To understand this artwork fully, one must research the historical context, the artist's biography, and the prevailing artistic trends. Art is never created in a vacuum; it is always contingent on its social and institutional context.