Design for Funerary Monument n.d.

Richard Westall's "Design for Funerary Monument" captures a delicate balance between grief and ethereal ascent through the medium of graphite on paper. The composition is dominated by soft lines and subtle gradations of tone, evoking a dreamlike atmosphere where earthly sorrow meets spiritual transcendence. The kneeling figure draped in heavy cloth contrasts with the upright, flowing form of the second figure, possibly a winged angel. This contrast highlights the transition from a posture of mourning to a gesture of elevation. Westall uses a semiotic system where the earthbound figure represents grief, and the ethereal form symbolizes hope and deliverance. The implied arch, sketched as a gentle curve, enframes the scene, suggesting a gateway or passage. The careful placement of "SACRED" on the monument serves as a focal point, grounding the composition and emphasizing the monument's purpose. The artwork destabilizes established meanings of death by presenting it not as an end but as a transformation. The formal qualities of line and form work together to create an emotional and intellectual space where viewers can contemplate themes of loss, memory, and spiritual aspiration.