View of the Piazza del Campidoglio 

In this etching, Piranesi presents the Piazza del Campidoglio, capturing Rome’s layered narrative. The statues of emperors on horseback and the architectural symmetry of the palazzi serve as potent symbols of power and order, designed to evoke the grandeur of ancient Rome, reborn in the Renaissance. Consider the equestrian statue, a motif resonating through time from the Marcus Aurelius statue, influencing representations of authority. We observe echoes of this power symbol in Verrocchio's Colleoni Monument, embodying the idealized image of leadership. The horse, a primal symbol of strength and virility, carries the leader, elevating him both physically and metaphorically above the masses. This recurring motif speaks to our collective desire for strong leadership and order. These symbols evolve, yet retain echoes of their original power. Like a dream, the past seeps into the present, shaping our perception of power.