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Editor: Here we have a page from a sketchbook by John Flaxman, undated, from the Tate. It shows three tomb designs. The angel is striking; I am curious about the cultural context for these designs. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Flaxman lived during a period of intense social and political upheaval; these designs, with their neoclassical austerity, reflect a desire for order and reason amidst chaos. Do you notice how the scale is designed to evoke public sentiment? Editor: Yes, I see the monumentality, even in these sketches. So, the tombs aren't just personal memorials, but statements for society. Curator: Precisely. Flaxman uses them to communicate values like piety and civic virtue, influencing the public perception of death and remembrance. What has this made you consider? Editor: I hadn't thought about how tomb design could be a form of political communication. Curator: Indeed, it’s a very public art form, shaping collective memory.