Arch of Pola [Pula] in Istria near to the sea 1748

Giovanni Battista Piranesi etched this view of the Arch of Pola in Istria near the sea. The arch, a potent symbol of Roman authority and triumph, dominates the composition. These arches, beyond mere portals, were declarations of power, echoing through the ages. Think of the Arch of Titus in Rome, commemorating victory, or even later, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, each a monumental echo. This form transcends its function; it speaks of dominion and the enduring nature of empire. The crumbling state in Piranesi's image adds another layer. This is not just a celebration, but a meditation on time and decay. Like the Renaissance obsession with ruins, Piranesi uses the arch to evoke a deep, almost melancholic sense of history's relentless march, inviting us to contemplate the transience of human glory. We are left to ponder how symbols persist, transforming through our collective memory.