View of St Paul’s from the Thames c. 1790

Curator: This is Daniel Turner's "View of St Paul’s from the Thames", currently held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It has such an airy, almost optimistic feel, despite being a cityscape. The blue is soothing, and the composition is quite balanced. Curator: Yes, but let's consider the materiality. Turner was working with oil paints, of course, and this support measures about 59 by 75 cm. How did the rise of industrial production impact pigment availability and artistic practice? Editor: And how did London's growth shape artistic representation? St. Paul's looms large, a symbol of religious and civic authority. What role did art play in constructing London's identity during this period? Curator: Precisely! These paintings weren't just aesthetic exercises; they were commodities, visual products of an expanding economy and evolving labor practices. Editor: Indeed, it gives you a fresh perspective, thinking about the politics and the making of art. Curator: Yes, considering the painting’s materiality helps unveil the social and political forces at play.