La From The Observatory 

Dan Graziano captured this sun-drenched view of Los Angeles from the Griffith Observatory using oil on board. The observatory dome stands proudly, evoking classical temples of knowledge, while the city shimmers faintly in the distance. Consider how the dome, a symbol of enlightenment, echoes the Pantheon's dome, a celestial eye connecting earth to the heavens. The blue sky above, painted in broad strokes, is reminiscent of the vaulted ceilings of Renaissance frescoes, beckoning us to contemplate our place in the cosmos. Even the hazy skyline of Los Angeles is not without precedent. It recalls the romantic, often melancholic, cityscapes of the German Romantics, who saw the urban landscape as a mirror reflecting humanity's hopes and anxieties. The choice of rendering evokes an emotional connection that transcends the purely visual. These motifs—the dome, the city, the sky— resurface, evolve, and find new meaning across different historical contexts, revealing the cyclical progression of symbols in art and culture.