[title not known] Verso: Sketch of Tondo 

Curator: John Flaxman's sketch, found on the verso of another work, gives us glimpses into his creative process. It's on paper, and quite small—only about 11 by 18 centimeters. Editor: It has a dreamlike quality—as though these scenes are fading in and out of awareness. There's a main scene on the top, but also, at least, two others below. They strike me as a type of reverie. Curator: Indeed. Flaxman often drew inspiration from classical literature. I see echoes of ancient friezes in the linear style and the figures' arrangement. Editor: The way he captures movement with so few lines is fascinating. It's like the essence of a story, stripped bare. There is a timeless quality about it. A testament to the endurance of archetypes. Curator: Definitely. And perhaps that's what makes it so captivating—it touches upon something deeply ingrained in our collective visual memory. Editor: Yes, it's more than just a sketch; it’s an echo of stories told across millennia, waiting to be fully realized.