New Rome. Castle of the Holy Angel 1825

Sylvester Shchedrin painted 'New Rome. Castle of the Holy Angel' showing Rome as a serene center of power and history. Dominating the scene are two powerful symbols: the Castel Sant’Angelo and the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Castel Sant’Angelo, originally Hadrian’s tomb, speaks of Roman imperial authority, while the Basilica represents the heart of the Catholic Church. The transformation of Hadrian’s tomb into a papal fortress is a potent example of the appropriation of symbols. Consider the obelisk, originally Egyptian, then Roman, now Christian, standing tall in St. Peter’s Square. These physical and symbolic layers reflect how cultures build upon one another, each era reinterpreting and repurposing what came before. The peaceful river, the Castel Sant’Angelo, and the luminous dome create a landscape charged with historical weight and cultural memory. This image is an emotional reminder of the city’s layered past, engaging us in a dialogue between the ancient and the modern.