1. Tombs in the Campo Elisio 1778 - 1779

Curator: This is John ‘Warwick’ Smith’s "Tombs in the Campo Elisio," held in the Tate Collections. It's an evocative watercolor, isn't it? Editor: Yes, immediately I’m struck by how ruins become monuments to memory, that round tower feels heavy with untold stories. Curator: Consider the materiality; the paper itself, likely handmade, the pigments derived from earth and minerals. Editor: The classical ruin motif suggests the transience of earthly power, juxtaposed against nature's persistent growth, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Absolutely, and I'm drawn to consider how the very act of painting, of processing the landscape through Smith's labor, transforms it into a commodity of cultural capital. Editor: I see them as more than commodities; the ruins symbolize a longing for a past Golden Age, prompting reflection on mortality. Curator: Indeed, these layers of production and symbolism give us so much to think about. Editor: It’s a poignant reminder of how we find meaning and purpose amidst the decay of what once was.