Frontispiece to Stations of the Cross c. 1748 - 1749

This etching, created in Venice in 1749 by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, presents symbols rich with meaning. The cock on the urn is an ancient symbol, a harbinger of both dawn and betrayal, and the “Via Crucis” points to the path of Christ's suffering. Now, reflect upon how the crowing cock, initially a pagan symbol of vigilance, was adopted into Christian iconography to mark Peter's denial of Christ. This potent image has been repeated throughout the centuries. Consider its appearance in medieval tapestries and Renaissance paintings. The crown of thorns at the bottom of the image also carries profound emotional weight. It acts as a relic of suffering, instantly connecting viewers to the agony of Christ. The symbols echo through history, each iteration subtly altered by the collective memory and cultural milieu of its time. These persistent motifs invite us to consider the cyclical nature of human experience.