Aqueduct of Segovia 1895

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's sketch, "Aqueduct of Segovia." It's a delicate pencil drawing, almost dreamlike in its lightness. What strikes you about this depiction of such a monumental structure? Curator: It’s fascinating to see how Ross, likely influenced by the Pictorialist movement, chose to represent this Roman aqueduct. What do you think he’s trying to convey about its place in the cultural landscape? Editor: Well, the ethereal quality softens the aqueduct, making it seem less like a feat of engineering and more like a relic, a picturesque ruin absorbed into the scenery. Curator: Precisely. He's framing it not just as architecture, but as a romantic symbol of a past era, which also then comments on the present, framing it as somehow disconnected from this monumental history. Editor: That is an interesting way to consider the artwork. Thank you for sharing! Curator: It’s a pleasure to re-contextualize historical works with you.