Tivoli: Villa of Maecenas from the North-West 

Curator: This is William James Müller’s "Tivoli: Villa of Maecenas from the North-West", held here at the Tate. It's rendered in watercolor on paper. Editor: It's surprisingly somber. The muted tones give it a melancholy air, even with the pastoral scene of the herder and livestock in the foreground. Curator: Right. The composition itself sets up a dialogue between past and present, between the glories of the classical era—as symbolized by the Villa—and the everyday lives of the people who inhabit this space. Müller was fascinated by this layering of history. Editor: And the use of watercolor lends itself well to that layering. The washes create a sense of depth and atmosphere, almost like looking through time itself. Curator: Exactly. Müller, in his travels, was keenly aware of how power and privilege had shaped landscapes and communities. Editor: The monochromatic palette certainly encourages us to focus on form and light, which, in turn, emphasize that deeper sense of time and transformation. Curator: Yes, it’s a meditation on how the past informs the present and on the interplay between people and place. Editor: Ultimately, the piece offers a compelling visual experience by engaging us in an atmospheric journey, historical and visual.