Apollo, Pan, Midas. A Decoration 

Curator: Sir James Thornhill gives us this drawing, "Apollo, Pan, Midas. A Decoration." It's currently part of the Tate collection. Editor: Oh, I love the sketchiness! It feels so immediate, like we’re catching a glimpse of the artist's thought process. Curator: Thornhill, of course, is a pivotal figure in British art history, heading up decorative painting programs, notably at Greenwich Hospital. Editor: You know, looking at it, there's a whimsical quality, even though it's rooted in mythology. I imagine it’s like eavesdropping on a jam session between gods and mortals. Curator: Yes! It's interesting to consider how these mythological subjects played into the grand narratives being constructed around British identity at the time. Thornhill was really at the forefront of that. Editor: I think I'll carry that little jam session with me today, a reminder that even the loftiest endeavors can start with a simple sketch and a bit of divine inspiration!