Cader Idris from the Mawddach Estuary above Barmouth c. 1802

John Sell Cotman captured the scene before you, Cader Idris from the Mawddach Estuary above Barmouth, in muted washes. Note the prominence of water and the vertical masts piercing the sky, both acting as conduits between the earthly and celestial realms. Water, universally symbolic of life and purification, flows through mythologies as the source of creation, as a space of subconscious reflection. Think of Ophelia drifting in the waters painted by Millais or Botticelli's Venus emerging from the waves. The masts, like ancient obelisks or church spires, reach upwards, connecting humanity to something greater. Their presence reminds us of humanity’s enduring quest for spiritual connection, echoing through time in various forms, from pagan totems to Christian crosses. These forms tap into our collective memory, evoking a timeless search for meaning and transcendence. The cycle of life, the search for enlightenment – all are intertwined in the image before us.