8. Near Sorento 1778 - 1779

Editor: We are looking at a watercolor titled "8. Near Sorento" by John Warwick Smith. The architecture nestled into the cliffs gives it a secretive, almost dreamlike quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It whispers to me of the Grand Tour, that journey of discovery so beloved by the British elite. Smith captures the allure of Italy, doesn't he? The light seems almost tangible, the cliffs breathe, and those buildings, they're like secrets waiting to be told. Do you feel the sense of longing embedded? Editor: I do. It's like a postcard from a past I never knew. Curator: Exactly! It invites us to imagine ourselves on that very journey, to feel the warmth of the sun and the weight of history. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I feel like I know more about the Grand Tour now, simply through seeing how Smith captured the light. Editor: Me too! Thank you.