Rome, The Pantheon 1843

Ippolito Caffi painted this view of Rome’s Pantheon in oils, capturing its imposing architecture and the bustling life around it. Dominating the scene is the Pantheon itself, originally a Roman temple, now a church, its columns a powerful echo of classical antiquity. In front, the obelisk rising from the fountain acts as a visual bridge across millennia. Obelisks, ancient Egyptian symbols of the sun god Ra, were brought to Rome as trophies of conquest. Here, it represents the layering of histories, a palimpsest of cultural meanings. The obelisk also appears in Renaissance and Baroque art, often repurposed by the Church to symbolize enlightenment and divine power. Think of Bernini's obelisk in Piazza Navona. What was once a pagan symbol becomes a marker of Christian triumph, revealing the complex ways societies adapt and transform inherited symbols, imbuing them with new significance, new purpose.