The City of Westminster from Near the York Water Gate 

Canaletto’s monochrome drawing captures London, presenting a scene dominated by the Thames and the architectural assertions of power along its banks. The obelisk looms large—a symbol whose roots stretch back to ancient Egypt, representing the sun god Ra and royal power. This symbol has been transmitted across civilizations. From Rome, obelisks found their way into the heart of European cities, each re-contextualization layering new meanings onto the old. Here, it speaks of London's ambition and imperial reach. Consider how such forms affect us: the impulse to erect towering structures that pierce the sky, a physical manifestation of humanity’s aspirations and perhaps its hubris. These shapes invoke the collective memory of civilizations past. This drawing offers a glimpse into a city aware of its place in a continuum, each stone laid in recognition of what came before.