[title not known] 

Curator: This watercolor on paper, currently untitled, comes to us from Lady Susan Elizabeth Percy, dating back to 1837. Editor: It’s a remarkably picturesque scene! There's a kind of theatricality to the way the buildings are perched so dramatically atop that central rocky mass. Curator: Indeed. Looking at the washes, one can imagine Percy, an amateur artist, carefully layering pigment to depict textures, light and shadow. How readily available and accessible were these materials? Editor: Well, consider the British fascination with the Grand Tour at that time. This watercolor likely served as both a personal memento and a visual record of her travels, perhaps intended for private circulation within her social circle. Curator: Precisely. It speaks to the culture of aristocratic women engaging in artistic pursuits, offering a glimpse into their leisure and social standing. Editor: Ultimately, the image reflects a specific history of landscape depiction and tourism. Curator: Absolutely. The painting gives us a perspective on labor, class, and artistic production in a particular social strata.