Church at New Shoreham, Sussex 1815

Curator: This is Luke Clennell's "Church at New Shoreham, Sussex", part of the Tate collection. Editor: It has a rather melancholic feel, doesn’t it? A study in decay, rendered with such delicate lines. Curator: The etching, only 101 x 161 mm, belies the monumental presence it suggests. Clennell's skill is evident in the details of the church masonry, which makes us think about the labor that built this structure. Editor: Absolutely. And the way the church dominates the scene, while figures in the foreground tend to graves, makes me consider the role of the Church of England in shaping social life at the time. Curator: Right, it's about the social function and longevity of the church contrasted with the transience of human life. Editor: Indeed. The print’s evocative power lingers, doesn't it? Curator: It certainly does, a humble yet powerful image.