Arch of Septimius Severus, Frontal Elevation (above) and Side View (below) 1690 - 1704

Jan Goeree created this drawing of the Arch of Septimius Severus with pen and brown ink, and gray wash. This arch, adorned with relief sculptures, was a potent symbol of Roman imperial power and triumph. Consider the triumphal arch itself, a motif extending far beyond Rome. From the Renaissance to modern times, leaders and artists have employed it to evoke authority. Think of Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin; each echoes Rome's declaration of dominance. The archway, originally a symbol of military victory, evolved into a motif celebrating state power. We find this echoed in civic architecture across centuries. The echoes in our collective memory link these structures, resonating on a primal, almost subconscious level. This image conveys both the might of empire and the enduring human impulse to commemorate power.