Sketch for "The Discoverer" Fresco, Assembly Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, New York 1878

Curator: At first glance, this sketch emanates a somber yet hopeful mood. The composition, awash in muted pastels, depicts figures emerging from what appears to be water, all beneath an overarching dome. Editor: Indeed. This is William Morris's "Sketch for 'The Discoverer' Fresco, Assembly Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, New York," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It offers a glimpse into the artistic planning behind a significant public commission. Curator: The figures rising from the waves evoke a sense of rebirth, of stepping into a new world. It calls to mind ancient creation myths, perhaps humanity emerging from primordial waters into consciousness. The discoverer, standing tall above the rest, carries a heavy symbolic burden. Editor: Absolutely. The choice of Morris, known for his Pre-Raphaelite associations and socialist ideals, to create a fresco for the New York State Capitol reflects a desire to imbue the seat of power with moral and aesthetic authority, even if the final product was never realized. Curator: The unfinished quality of the sketch only amplifies its symbolic power, suggesting that discovery is an ongoing process, a journey rather than a destination. I find the rough execution oddly compelling. Editor: It's intriguing to consider how the political climate of the time influenced the commission, and how Morris's vision might have been received by the public had the fresco been completed. Food for thought!