Funerary Monument n.d.

Francesco Bartolozzi rendered this funerary monument drawing with pencil and gray wash. Here, classical motifs, deeply rooted in cultural memory, converge. At the base, a figure reclines in eternal slumber, a scene reminiscent of ancient Roman sarcophagi, symbolizing repose and the transition to the afterlife. Above, an angel with outstretched wings heralds a trumpet. This figure can be traced back to classical depictions of 'fame' and 'victory.' The trumpet symbolizes a call to remembrance, much like the trumpets sounded in triumphal processions, its echoes resonate through centuries. Figures of Poseidon and Athena with her shield evoke the resilience and power that have marked collective memory and how it transcends time. This confluence of symbols engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Indeed, the symbols within this drawing reveal how images are continuously reshaped, reflecting the eternal dance between past and present, each era reinterpreting and imprinting its own emotional and psychological landscape onto these enduring forms.