The Temples of Paestum 

Curator: William Linton, a British landscape painter born in 1791, created this large-scale oil on canvas known as "The Temples of Paestum." It is currently held in the Tate collection. Editor: Wow, this painting feels heavy, almost weighted down by that golden light. Like looking at a dream of a lost civilization. Curator: Indeed. The temples themselves become a focal point for reflecting on the passage of time and the rise and fall of empires. Linton was certainly influenced by the picturesque movement, emphasizing aesthetic beauty but also nature's power. Editor: I can see that. There's a sense of grandeur, but also something…lonely. Those figures in the foreground, they almost look like they’re haunting the place. Curator: It is suggestive. The inclusion of those figures draws attention to the relationship between the ancient world and the present day, highlighting our fascination with the past. Editor: It makes you think about what remains and what disappears. Beautiful and a little sad. Curator: Precisely. Linton captures that tension beautifully.