Ospizio di San Michele a Ripa Grande te Rome 1699

Alessandro Specchi’s engraving captures the Ospizio di San Michele in Rome. Notice how the river acts not only as a means of transport, but as a link between different planes. Throughout history, water is used as a symbol of both division and connection: the mythological River Styx separating the realms of the living and the dead, or the River Jordan as a passage to salvation. Here, the Tiber connects the Ospizio to the world, but it also suggests a boundary between the haven of the charitable institution and the outside world. The boats traversing the water remind us of Charon's vessel, ferrying souls. Is this a reflection on life's journey? It touches our subconscious, evoking a deep-seated understanding of transition and the unknown. Such symbols cycle through time, reflecting our continuous contemplation of life's journey and ultimate destination.