Westminster Bridge 

Giuseppe de Nittis captured London's skyline using oil on canvas. The silhouette of the Westminster Bridge, a feat of engineering, stretches across the foreground. Dominating the background, the imposing towers of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey rise like ancient sentinels. These vertical architectural forms, echoing obelisks and minarets across cultures, reach towards the heavens. They evoke a sense of power and permanence. The pointed arches and spires, reminiscent of Gothic cathedrals, embody spiritual aspiration. In our collective memory, we see these shapes repeated through time, in triumphal arches and city gates. The psychological effect is one of awe, yet also a sense of melancholy. The heavy atmosphere and muted tones suggest a city steeped in history, bearing the weight of its past. The motifs of rising structures have resurfaced across eras. They have evolved from symbols of religious devotion to emblems of civic pride and political authority.