Initial G with Two Obelisks and a Colonnade c. 18th century

Editor: So this is Carlo Nolli's "Initial G with Two Obelisks and a Colonnade," I believe it's an etching. It feels so architectural and… grand, even at that tiny scale. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's as if Nolli is playing with our sense of scale. The "G" becomes a monumental form itself, doesn't it? Almost a city gate. What do you think the artist might be trying to tell us? It feels like more than just decoration, it is a reflection on the weight of history, and the monumental ego of Rome! Editor: So it's like the letter *is* the architecture? A foundation! It's crazy how much it packs in. Curator: Exactly! An alphabet of power! Editor: I never would have thought about it that way!