Grabmal der Caecilia Metella 

This graphite drawing by Ludwig Metz captures the ancient tomb of Caecilia Metella along the Via Appia. Notice the mausoleum's circular form, a shape deeply rooted in funerary architecture across cultures. The circle, symbolizing eternity and cyclical time, echoes in structures from Mycenaean tholos tombs to Hadrian's Mausoleum, each a monument to enduring memory. This architectural echo links the Roman tomb to earlier and later expressions of remembrance. The crumbling stones, sketched with delicate precision, suggest the ravages of time, a poignant reminder of mortality. This is a motif we see repeated through history, from medieval memento mori paintings to modern art installations, an emotional, psychological symbol of the transience of human existence.