Design for R. Pollard’s ‘The Peerage of Great Britain and Ireland’; Matthew de Johnson Defeating the Earl of Douglas and Taking his Brother the Earl of Ormond Prisoner: Studies of Fighting Men 

Curator: Before us is a preparatory sketch by Thomas Stothard, created around the late 18th or early 19th century. It’s titled ‘Design for R. Pollard’s ‘The Peerage of Great Britain and Ireland’; Matthew de Johnson Defeating the Earl of Douglas and Taking his Brother the Earl of Ormond Prisoner: Studies of Fighting Men.’ Editor: The figures, rendered in delicate lines, convey a sense of action and struggle, yet there's also a striking classical feel to their forms. Curator: Indeed, Stothard’s meticulousness is quite evident; he's clearly focused on the anatomy and poses of the figures—essential to understanding the dynamism within this historical scene. We see references to the heroic tradition. Editor: Right, these figures echo motifs of bravery, familial conflict, and chivalry—themes deeply embedded in British national identity. The figures, almost heroic, appear to represent both sides of the Scottish battles. Curator: Precisely. Stothard uses this imagery of conflict to explore themes of power and identity, and the very nature of British peerage. Editor: Ultimately, the sketch offers a glimpse into the narratives that shape cultural memory. Curator: And a masterclass on the articulation of the human figure.