Design for a Stage Set: Design in Section of a Two-Storied Entrance Hall (Recto). Elevation Design for a Monumental Entrance with Columns and Rounded Pediment (Verso). 1794

Giovanni Battista Galliani rendered this design for a stage set with ink and watercolor on paper. Observe the monumental entrance with its columns and rounded pediment; these architectural forms speak of power and permanence, harking back to classical antiquity. The arch, a dominant feature, appears throughout history, from Roman triumphal arches to Renaissance gateways. It signifies passage, transition, and even triumph. Consider the arch as it appears in ancient Roman structures, symbols of imperial might, now mirrored here. The Roman arch has become a persistent motif, imbued with layers of collective memory and cultural significance. It's a powerful symbol that, through its various iterations, continues to evoke feelings of awe, stability, and the weight of history. How does this image trigger an emotional response? Does the archway, in its stoic grandeur, evoke a sense of longing for a glorious past?