Temple of the Sun and the Moon in Rome 1750

Jean Barbault's delicate chalk drawing captures the Temple of the Sun and the Moon in Rome. The sun and moon, ancient symbols of light and time, represent dual aspects of existence: rationality and intuition, the masculine and feminine principles. Consider the oculus in the temple's dome: in antiquity, this architectural feature was not merely a source of light, but a symbolic eye to the heavens. In other cultures, we see similar motifs, like the eye of Horus in ancient Egypt, representing protection, royal power, and good health. Here, in Barbault's drawing, the crumbling architecture speaks to the transience of human endeavor, while the celestial symbols hint at enduring cosmic forces. This duality is not merely a visual contrast; it's a psychological one. Our subconscious recognizes these familiar symbols and is reminded that, like the temple, all earthly structures will eventually return to dust, but the archetypal ideas these symbols represent continue to inspire. Barbault invites us to ponder the eternal dance between creation and decay, a theme as relevant today as it was in ancient Rome.