Reliëf van een vrouwelijke heilige en een Korinthisch kapiteel van de San Marco in Venetië before 1885

Carl Heinrich Jacobi captured this image of a relief and capital in Venice's San Marco. The relief presents a female saint, identifiable by her halo. Her open arms are a gesture of welcome, echoing the ancient orans pose found in early Christian art, symbolizing prayer and supplication. The capital displays the acanthus leaves, a classical motif. The Greeks associated them with resilience and rebirth. We also see them adorning Roman temples, symbolizing prosperity and grandeur. The saint's pose appears across cultures—from Byzantine mosaics to Renaissance paintings—as a sign of divine grace. Similarly, the acanthus leaf finds its way into countless architectural designs, evolving from a symbol of earthly delight. The endurance of these symbols speaks to the enduring human need for connection to the sacred and beautiful, demonstrating how collective memory subtly shapes our understanding of art across time.