Gezicht op de voorgevel van de Sint-Jan van Lateranen te Rome c. 1875 - 1900

This is a photograph by Gustave Eugène Chauffourier of the façade of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome. Note the statues atop the building, standing as silent guardians. This motif of elevated figures appears across cultures, reminiscent of ancient Greek pediments or Egyptian temple facades. They symbolize power, protection, and divine presence. In both cases, the figures are intentionally positioned to loom over the viewer, engaging on a subconscious level to evoke feelings of awe and reverence. This imposing composition taps into our collective memory, echoing primal responses to authority and the sacred. Consider how the meaning of these figures changes: In antiquity, they were pagan gods, later adapted into Christian saints. This cyclical transformation highlights the evolving, yet persistent, human need for visual symbols of transcendence and guidance.