Gezicht op Bellagio en het Comomeer vanaf Villa Carlotta 1867 - 1875

This photograph captures a view of Bellagio and Lake Como from Villa Carlotta. Dominating the foreground is the balustrade, adorned with classical urns. These urns are not mere decoration. They are vessels of memory. Throughout history, urns have symbolized mourning, remembrance, and the eternal cycle of life. Consider the funerary urns of ancient Rome, filled with ashes of the deceased, or their later use in Renaissance art. Now, compare them to the vases filled with water to grow basil during the Festa di San Giovanni: the cyclical idea of life, death and rebirth persists, resurfacing in domestic objects used in popular celebrations. These urns act as containers of emotions, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Their enduring presence reflects the psychological weight of symbols passed down through generations, continuously evolving to express new layers of meaning in the ongoing human experience.