Curatorial notes
Lievin Cruyl etched this view of Rome, capturing the city’s skyline with the Vatican and Castel Sant’Angelo, its imposing fortress, dominating the scene. Originally Hadrian's mausoleum, the Castel Sant’Angelo became a papal residence, its transformation mirroring Rome's own shift from pagan to Christian center. Note how Cruyl places it alongside St. Peter’s Basilica; the contrast speaks volumes. The Basilica, crowned with its dome, symbolizes spiritual power, while the Castel, with its visible flag, represents temporal authority. This juxtaposition echoes throughout history, seen even in medieval tapestries where sacred and secular figures vie for dominance. The fortress, once a tomb, now a stronghold – a potent symbol of transformation and adaptation, a recurrent theme in our collective consciousness. This etching captures Rome’s layered history and the human drive to repurpose and redefine symbols of power.
