Loch Earn with Ben Vorlich 

Curator: This watercolor, "Loch Earn with Ben Vorlich," was rendered by Anthony Vandyke Copley Fielding. The support is just 96 by 200 mm, so it’s quite small. Editor: It evokes a sense of stillness, almost melancholy, with those muted blues and grays dominating the scene. Curator: Fielding was president of the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours, and he often depicted landscapes like this. His patrons came from the upper classes, keen to display their Romantic sensibilities. Editor: Water, in many cultures, represents the subconscious. The loch's reflective surface might symbolize introspection, a quiet contemplation of the self amidst the grandeur of nature. Curator: These landscapes were powerful statements about land ownership and national identity in a changing political landscape. They were about celebrating a particular vision of Britain. Editor: The birds, perhaps gulls, add a layer of symbolic complexity. They may be symbols of freedom, of overcoming obstacles and boundaries. Curator: Considering the social stratification of the time, maybe these paintings also served to exclude others from experiencing these places? Editor: Indeed, a good point, and something to consider. Thank you! Curator: It's a pleasure to consider these many facets.