Ornamental Scroll, Squirrels among the Foliage 

Editor: This is Thomas Stothard's "Ornamental Scroll, Squirrels among the Foliage," residing in the Tate Collections. It’s a delicate drawing, almost like a quick study. What can you tell me about its place in the art world of its time? Curator: Stothard's preparatory drawings, like this, highlight the significance of ornamentation in late 18th and early 19th-century visual culture. It speaks to the period’s understanding of the decorative arts as integral to national identity and social status, as well as the rise of industrial design. Does this shift how you perceive the work? Editor: Definitely! It adds a layer of socio-political meaning to what seemed like a simple sketch. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us that even seemingly minor artworks can reveal broader cultural values and aspirations.