Gezicht op de Izaäkkathedraal in Sint-Petersburg c. 1880 - 1900

This photograph captures the imposing Saint Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, presenting a symphony of classical motifs. The structure is adorned with eagles, symbols of imperial power, echoing the Roman Empire's emblems. These majestic birds perched atop the cathedral’s facades are not merely decorative; they are potent reminders of authority. Consider the eagle's presence on ancient Roman standards or its later adoption by various European empires; the image resonates across millennia. Its meaning is always shifting. The cathedral's architectural vocabulary, with its columns and dome, further evokes Rome's Pantheon, an architectural idea that resonates through the ages. These choices are no accident, St. Petersburg was meant to be a 'window to Europe'. Each motif creates a feeling of power, one that connects to subconscious memories embedded in our collective psyche. The eagle, the dome, the column: all have become embedded in our minds, recurring and resurfacing in various guises through time.