Palazzo della Sapienza met de Sant' Ivo alla Sapienza te Rome 1665

Giovanni Battista Falda's print captures the Palazzo della Sapienza and Sant' Ivo alla Sapienza in Rome, immortalizing the pursuit of knowledge in ink. Dominating the skyline is the church's spiraling dome, crowned with symbols of divine wisdom. This motif of ascent, a reaching towards the heavens, echoes through history, from the Tower of Babel to the minarets of Islam. The spiral itself is an ancient symbol, representing the cyclical nature of time and the eternal quest for understanding. Consider the serpent, a creature often depicted coiled in a similar fashion. In some traditions, it embodies chaos and temptation, while in others, it symbolizes healing and transformation. Perhaps Bernini, in his design, consciously or unconsciously tapped into this primal archetype. It's a visual echo that resonates deep within our collective memory, inviting us to contemplate the complexities of knowledge and its potential for both enlightenment and destruction.