Benton Castle Looking Down the Reach to Milford Haven 1775

Editor: This is Paul Sandby’s "Benton Castle Looking Down the Reach to Milford Haven," housed here at Harvard. It’s a sepia print, and I’m struck by its stillness. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The sepia ink gives it a nostalgic feel, doesn't it? For me, it's about the picturesque—that 18th-century ideal of landscape. Sandby captures a specific kind of beauty, a controlled wildness if you will. Editor: Controlled wildness... I like that. Curator: It’s a scene carefully composed. The castle, the trees, the boat, all arranged for maximum visual appeal. He’s not just showing us a place; he's crafting an experience, a mood. Editor: It's like he's inviting us into a memory. Curator: Exactly! It makes you wonder about the stories hidden within that view. Editor: I’ll never see landscapes the same way again. Curator: Nor will I!