[title not known] 

Curator: This intriguing page, currently untitled, comes from the hand of John Flaxman, born in 1755. It resides in the Tate Collections and presents us with two architectural sketches rendered in ink on paper, each a testament to neoclassical form. What's your take on them? Editor: My initial reaction is one of solemnity, perhaps tinged with a bit of melancholy. The lower sketch, particularly, with its draped figure under that arch, evokes a sense of mourning or quiet reflection. Curator: Precisely. Note how Flaxman uses line weight to create a sense of depth, particularly in the drapery. The semiotic interplay between the arch and the figure below suggests a transition, a passage. Editor: I get that feeling! It's almost theatrical, in a way. The upper sketch, simpler, offers a kind of stark contrast—a stage before the drama unfolds? Curator: Indeed. It functions as a formal counterpoint, grounding the more emotionally charged scene below. I am struck by the deliberate balance in the composition. Editor: It’s funny, even in these simple sketches, you feel Flaxman reaching for something grand, something eternal. Curator: I agree. A testament, perhaps, to art's enduring power to evoke and provoke. Editor: A little spark of beauty in a minimalist package.