[Old Court of Imam Riza MESHED] 1840 - 1869

Luigi Pesce captured the Old Court of Imam Riza in Meshad through the lens of his camera, documenting a place where cultural and religious motifs intertwine. The pointed arch, a symbol of transcendence, rises prominently, echoing similar arches found in Roman triumphal structures, signaling dominion and passage. Here, it marks entry into a sacred space, a transition from the mundane to the divine. Notice the geometric patterns adorning the walls, not merely decoration, but visual echoes of cosmic order, resembling the same patterns I have seen in ancient Islamic art. The minaret, a tower of light, ascends towards the heavens, reminiscent of obelisks found in ancient Egypt, both serving as a connection between earth and sky. These recurring motifs, like dreams, surface across cultures and eras. The emotional power lies in the architectural composition, which inspires the awe and reverence, deeply affecting the subconscious and reminding us of our place in the grand, cosmic tapestry. It is a cycle, this dance of symbols, a visual echo resonating through time.