Lovely Decay

This photograph captures the essence of the romantic Grand Tour notion of Italy: beautiful not in spite of its age, but because of it, its history, its long, slow decay. A once-grand residence that wears its history on the outside--cracked walls, worn colors, centuries of repairs (futile attempts to slow time)--like this one in Ravello in southern Italy, communicates something universal, something uniquely human. While life is fleeting and time marches on no matter what we construct to slow its movement, the struggle itself, to commemorate the journey, to celebrate moments, and to contribute something that can stand as testament to the shared struggle of all peoples from all ages, is strikingly beautiful. When I look at this photograph (shot in the summer of 2008), I'm reminded of the American poet Wallace Stevens, who wrote, "Death is the mother of beauty." The village of Ravello, located just northeast of Amalfi Town, in Campania, may have been populated in the 5th Century by locals seeking refuge from the barbarian hordes who roamed freely following the fall of Rome. As such, the village is situated high above the coast, offering commanding views.

Photograph by Dana Angotti-Novick