Mountains and Lakes 

Editor: This is "Mountains and Lakes" by Rev. William Gilpin. It's a watercolor piece, and there's something about the composition that's really captivating, how the ruins sit atop the hill. What do you see in this piece, from a formal perspective? Curator: Note the picturesque arrangement and its structural elements. The ruins provide vertical thrust, countered by the horizontality of the lake and the foreground. It employs the principles of the 'beautiful' and 'sublime', wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I do. The sublime is evident in the ruin, and the beautiful in the lake and the cows resting. Curator: Precisely. The interplay of light and shadow enhances depth, creating visual interest. What have you learned? Editor: I now see how Gilpin uses pictorial devices for visual harmony. Thanks!