Roches Rocks and Hermitage c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Roches Rocks and Hermitage" by John Pye the Younger, housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? A sense of stark isolation, beautifully rendered. The rocks jut out like teeth from the landscape. Curator: It’s a study in contrasts, isn't it? The rough, natural forms of the rocks against the straight lines of the hermitage ruins. One wonders about the socio-economic status of hermits during this period and the social context of their patrons. Editor: Yes, and the scale! The figures are so tiny, dwarfed by the sheer mass of nature. It makes you think about our own insignificance, doesn’t it? I feel like I'm observing a dream, or a memory. Curator: Indeed. Thank you for providing a reflective insight. Editor: And thank you for illuminating the historical context.