Scene from "Henry VIII;" verso: Scene from "The Tempest" c. 1819

Editor: This is Washington Allston's sketch, "Scene from 'Henry VIII;' verso: Scene from 'The Tempest.'" It's a delicate graphite drawing. What strikes me is how ethereal and fleeting the figures appear. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s as if Allston captured a half-remembered dream, isn’t it? The light touch suggests the impermanence of the theatrical moment, that ephemeral magic. Do you see how the lines almost vibrate with energy, hinting at the passions bubbling beneath those Shakespearean costumes? Editor: I do now! So it's not just a sketch, it's capturing an *experience*. That’s more exciting than I thought!