Sketch for a Gothic Monument (the Simcoe Monument?) c. 1814

Editor: This is John Flaxman’s "Sketch for a Gothic Monument (the Simcoe Monument?)" created around 1814 using pencil. The figures are so lightly sketched, yet the architectural frame around them is surprisingly defined, at least in its broad outlines. It's incomplete, obviously. What do you see in this work? Curator: What strikes me first is the tension between the precision of the architectural structure and the ethereal quality of the figures themselves. The gothic archway, rendered with careful, clean lines, firmly anchors the composition. Flaxman seems to be exploring contrasting methods of delineating space and form. Consider how the line dictates our reading here. Editor: So, the sharp lines versus the hazy figures is what you focus on. Is that difference in styles of drawing intentional or just a work in progress? Curator: Ah, an excellent question! Given Flaxman’s neo-classical tendencies, his exploration of line is deliberate. We see it creating boundaries, and at other times, blurring the lines and creating tonal contrasts. See how he renders volume and space in these areas? He asks us to contemplate absence and presence. Editor: So, it is more than just a quick sketch; it is really experimenting with the medium and the contrast between styles. I had not noticed how nuanced the form is! Curator: Precisely! Notice how the incised arc contrasts against the figures within. Editor: It feels like a whole world within the portal, separated from ours! That emphasis on the shapes has really transformed my understanding. Thank you! Curator: And you have sharpened my attention to the architectural function!