[title not known] 

Curator: This sketch by John Flaxman, made in the late 18th or early 19th century, presents us with a series of draped figures in graphite on paper. Editor: My first thought is that the figures, though classical in form, seem caught in a moment of quiet contemplation, or even introspection. There is a lightness that is very appealing. Curator: Flaxman, known for his neoclassical style, often depicted scenes from classical literature and mythology, emphasizing idealized forms and moral themes. This sketch, now in the Tate Collection, demonstrates his interest in the human figure, simplified. Editor: The figures feel like ghosts of an ancient world, their forms suggested rather than fully defined. Are we looking at an unfinished thought, a memory, perhaps? They could be echoes in a dream. Curator: Sketches like this provided the foundation for larger works, demonstrating the importance of drawing in academic training and artistic practice, particularly in the 18th century. It is amazing how they're still around today. Editor: It's more than just a study; there's an intimacy here, a sense of the artist exploring the human condition, draped in the attire of antiquity. It resonates in a very modern way.