Ancient buildings next to water in the woods (recto); A variation of the same landscape in reverse (verso) 1740 - 1755

Robert Adam created this drawing of ancient buildings next to water in the woods around the 18th century. Here, the architecture rises from the water, framed by trees. In antiquity, water held profound symbolic weight, representing purification and the source of life. Temples and structures built near water were not merely aesthetic choices, but deeply spiritual ones. Think of the Egyptian temples along the Nile or the sacred pools of ancient Greece. These recurring motifs echo across time. The water, a symbol of fluidity and change, contrasts with the static architecture, creating a tension that is both visually and psychologically engaging. The very act of building near water suggests a dialogue between human creation and the natural world, a dance as old as civilization itself. This primal connection to water engages viewers on a subconscious level, triggering a recognition of our origins and the fundamental elements that shape our existence. We see how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, rippling through history and culture, to echo in Adam’s drawing.