Interior view of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, from Views of Rome 1768

Giovanni Battista Piranesi etched this interior view of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, capturing Rome's grandeur. The basilica's design, with its imposing columns and arches, speaks of power, order, and the divine. Note the statues within the niches, each frozen in classical contrapposto, echoing ancient ideals of beauty and virtue. These figures are not merely decoration; they are the embodiment of virtues, bridging the gap between earthly existence and higher spiritual ideals. This posture has appeared in varied forms and contexts, from the Doryphoros of Polykleitos in ancient Greece to the Renaissance sculptures of Michelangelo. The image taps into our collective memory, resonating with primal feelings of awe and reverence. Such symbols are not static; they evolve, resurface, and are continually reinterpreted through history's ever-turning cycles.