View of Hampton Court Palace c. 1710

Curator: Jan Griffier's "View of Hampton Court Palace" captures the palace and gardens within a vast landscape. It's a small work, just over a foot wide. Editor: It feels more like a stage set than a portrait of a place. The light seems to be emanating from the palace itself, casting the rest into shadow. Curator: That light, I think, signifies the enduring power associated with the palace itself, a beacon through time. Notice how it draws the eye. Editor: And the river, snaking its way around...a constant, almost indifferent witness to the dramas played out within those walls. The people in the boat are utterly dwarfed. Curator: Griffier, born in Amsterdam, brings a Dutch sensibility to this very English scene. The symmetry, the order – it’s all very deliberate. Editor: A potent symbol of control, certainly. It makes me wonder what stories those walls could tell if they could talk. Curator: A painterly paradox then, isn't it? A landscape steeped in order, yet hinting at secrets. Editor: Absolutely, a glimpse into history where the stones whisper.