Saint Peter's, apse, exterior elevation (recto) blank (verso) 1500 - 1560

This is a drawing of the exterior of the apse of St. Peter's, a meticulous architectural rendering with ink on paper. Observe the dominant, towering columns topped with ornate capitals. They evoke the grandeur of classical antiquity, symbols of strength and order. These columns echo through history, from the temples of ancient Greece to Roman basilicas and Renaissance cathedrals. Their presence here in St. Peter's asserts a connection to that venerable past, but it is not merely imitation. The column evolves; the capitals sprout new forms. The classical column transcends its origin and becomes a universal symbol. The act of looking at it, charged with memory and emotion, awakens in us a deep, subconscious resonance, a yearning for stability and permanence. Like a recurring dream, this column continues to resurface.