Church at New Shoreham, Sussex 1815

Curator: This is Luke Clennell's "Church at New Shoreham, Sussex," housed here at the Tate. It's an etching, a delicate rendering of a Norman church. Editor: It strikes me as melancholic. The ruined state of the church, rendered in such fine detail, suggests a sense of loss, a fading grandeur. Curator: Absolutely. The etching captures not just the physical decay but also perhaps the socio-political shifts impacting religious institutions at the time. We might consider the Dissenter movement or broader anxieties about societal transformation. Editor: Visually, the tower dominates the composition, a clear symbol of enduring faith, even amidst ruin. It anchors the image, providing a focal point for contemplation. Curator: Indeed. And look at the figures in the foreground – they’re dwarfed by the architecture, perhaps suggesting the individual's place within broader historical narratives. Editor: It's a poignant reminder that everything, even the seemingly eternal, is subject to change. Curator: Precisely. Clennell offers a space to reflect on the passage of time and the weight of history.