Gevel van de binnenplaats van Palazzo Falconieri after 1655

Giovanni Battista Falda rendered this elevation of the Palazzo Falconieri courtyard in ink. Observe how the arches serve as more than mere structural elements; they echo a motif of transition and passage deeply embedded in our cultural psyche. The arch, a symbol of triumph and connection, appears in Roman triumphal arches and Renaissance gateways. This shape elicits a sense of forward movement, both physically and metaphorically. We see this same shape in the prosceniums of theaters, where an audience steps into another world. Moreover, consider the arches found in catacombs, where they signify the passage from life to the afterlife, from the known to the unknown. This persistent architectural element mirrors our subconscious yearning for continuation. It taps into a primordial desire to traverse boundaries. And so, standing before this courtyard, we find ourselves not just observing architecture, but partaking in a ritual of crossing thresholds, reimagining this structure in our collective memory.