Ruïne van een muur met op de achtergrond een kerk 1675 - 1711

This anonymous etching depicts a ruined wall with a church in the background. At center, the Porta Flaminia stands as a solemn archway adorned with classical motifs. The archway motif, derived from ancient Roman triumphal arches, symbolizes victory and imperial power. But here, it is juxtaposed against the crumbling wall, creating a tension between past grandeur and present decay. This contrast echoes through history, resurfacing in Renaissance paintings like Ghirlandaio’s work with their classical arches framing biblical scenes, signaling the enduring legacy and transformation of symbols. The crumbling wall, a Memento Mori, evokes a deep, subconscious awareness of time's passage. Like the skull in a vanitas painting, it reminds us of mortality, a motif that continuously resurfaces to provoke introspection on life's transience. The ruin's image, laden with emotional weight, touches something profound in our shared human experience.