Twee details van het exterieur van de San Marco in Venetië, waarvan één met griffioenen before 1884

Carl Heinrich Jacobi captured these two details of the exterior of San Marco in Venice in a photograph. The griffins aren’t merely decorative; they are symbols loaded with historical and cultural weight. Consider the griffin, a hybrid creature, part lion, part eagle. It embodies a powerful combination of earthly and aerial dominion, often associated with guarding treasures and sacred spaces. These architectural details reflect the ambitions of Venice as a powerful trading hub connecting East and West. The choice of such symbols speaks to a desire to project authority and wealth. The photograph itself, taken in the 19th century, documents not only the architecture but also the evolving perception and preservation of cultural heritage. Jacobi invites us to look closer, to see beyond the grand facade, and to engage with the intricate details that tell a story of cultural exchange and artistic vision.