The Interior of the Colosseum c. 1775

Editor: This watercolor, "The Interior of the Colosseum" by William Pars, captures the iconic structure in ruins. I’m struck by the contrast between the crumbling walls and the prominent Christian cross. What’s your take on this interplay? Curator: It's a deliberate visual and symbolic juxtaposition. The Colosseum, once a symbol of Roman imperial power and pagan spectacle, is here framed within a Christian context. Pars highlights the Catholic church’s appropriation and re-sanctification of the space. How do you see that influencing the public perception? Editor: It reframes the narrative, doesn't it? From gladiatorial combat to a site of Christian pilgrimage, a complete transformation. Curator: Precisely. The image speaks to the Church's power to rewrite history and reshape cultural landscapes. Thanks to Pars, we see both the decay of empire and the rise of a new order. Editor: That’s a powerful statement about the role of institutions in shaping how we remember the past.