Supreme Court 1880

Pericles Pantazis captured this view of the Supreme Court with oil on canvas. At the heart of this painting, the steps carved into the rock face become an intriguing symbol. Steps, as a motif, evoke profound associations. Think of Jacob's Ladder, a bridge between the earthly and the divine. Or the many stairways of ancient temples, promising enlightenment through ascent. Here, these steps suggest a pathway to justice, carved into the very bedrock of society. Yet, the eroded stone around them hints at the impermanence of human institutions. Just as the steps lead upwards, the landscape stretches out toward the distant city, drawing our eye along the pathway, inviting introspection. In their repetition across cultures, we glimpse our collective, often subconscious, aspirations for order and meaning. These aspirations resurface, transformed yet recognizable, in the human quest for justice and understanding.