Blank page; verso: Man on Horseback, after "The Duke of Marlborough at the Battle of Malplaquet" c. 18th century

Curator: This sketch is attributed to Joshua Reynolds. It's titled "Blank page; verso: Man on Horseback, after 'The Duke of Marlborough at the Battle of Malplaquet'". Editor: I'm struck by its dynamism, even unfinished. The horse and rider surge forward, captured with such sparse, economical lines. Curator: Reynolds was fascinated by the theater of power and its representation. This sketch suggests his interest in heroic masculinity and the narratives of British military prowess during the 18th century. Marlborough was quite the celebrity then. Editor: Notice how Reynolds uses hatching to create form. The horse's musculature and the rider's pose, all implied, hint at movement and energy. It’s a study in capturing essence. Curator: Right. Consider, too, that Reynolds's own social climbing was intimately tied to his skill in portraying the elite. These men cemented British imperial projects, and he immortalized them. Editor: Seeing this sketch reveals the vital tension between immediacy and careful planning. Both voices contribute to our experience.