The Riva, Looking Towards the Grand Ducal Palace 1880

This etching by Frank Duveneck captures the Riva in Venice, presenting a scene bustling with life and commerce. Boats, buildings, and figures converge, symbolizing Venice as a vital port city. The mast of the ship evokes the form of an obelisk, a symbol deeply rooted in ancient Egyptian culture. The obelisk, originally representing the sun god Ra, signified power, resurrection, and stability. When we see the masts of the boats piercing the skyline, we are unconsciously reminded of human striving and the ambition of civilization, reaching towards the heavens. We see this symbol repurposed again and again through time. The arrangement of the scene evokes the collective memory and subconscious understanding of the city as a place of dynamic exchange. Venice, throughout history, has served as a crossroads where cultures collide, evidenced here through architecture and the figures portrayed. Here, it remains a potent emblem, forever reborn on the horizon.