Sant'Andrea al Quirinale te Rome 1669 - 1670

This etching of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale in Rome was made by Giovanni Battista Falda in the late 17th century. Dominating the scene is the church, its dome capped with a cross, a symbol of Christianity's triumph and presence. The cross atop the dome echoes through the ages, finding its roots in ancient solar symbols, repurposed to signify spiritual transcendence. Consider the obelisks of ancient Egypt, also reaching towards the heavens, transformed over millennia into Christian symbols. This transformation is not merely symbolic; it represents a deep, psychological need to connect with something beyond ourselves, a reaching for the divine. Looking closer, notice how the lines converge, drawing the eye upwards, a visual echo of mankind's eternal quest for meaning, a pattern repeating across time and cultures.