Gezicht op de Theems te Londen before 1841

Friedrich Salathé's cityscape depicts London, likely made during the first half of the 19th century. The eye is drawn to the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral dominating the horizon. It rises as a symbol of spiritual and temporal power, yet also echoes the Pantheon in Rome, a subtle nod to the continuity of empire and the translation of power across centuries. Consider the dome: from antiquity to the Renaissance, and now gracing the London skyline, it carries the weight of cultural memory. It becomes a vessel for our collective aspirations. This architectural form taps into deep, subconscious longings for order and harmony. The dome becomes a kind of mandala for Western consciousness, a symbol of stability in the ever-churning river of time. The image evokes a powerful sense of place, one that engages viewers on a deep, emotional level. This form resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.