The Pantheon (S. Maria Rotunda) c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Hendrick van Cleve III's "The Pantheon (S. Maria Rotunda)," an etching. It depicts a bustling scene, but what truly strikes me is how the Pantheon looms, a constant presence amidst the city's activity. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The Pantheon, indeed, serves as more than just architecture here; it's a symbol laden with cultural memory. Van Cleve captures its transformation, from a Roman temple to a Christian church, S. Maria Rotunda. The image then acts as a vessel, a visual embodiment of layered histories. Editor: So the city around it amplifies that, showcasing the passage of time? Curator: Precisely. The figures, the buildings, all contribute to this continuous narrative, a palimpsest where Roman grandeur meets Renaissance life. It makes you wonder what symbols we are building today. Editor: I never thought of it that way, seeing the city itself as part of the Pantheon's ongoing story. Thanks! Curator: It's in these visual echoes that we find ourselves, connected to the past and, hopefully, more mindful of the future we’re building.