Angel with the SudariumGian Lorenzo Bernini

This angelic statue (left) on the Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (17th-c.), holds a sudarium, a cloth associated with the veil of Veronica, believed to have wiped Christ's face. The sudarium symbolizes compassion and divine presence, reflecting the Baroque era's emphasis on emotional engagement and spiritual experience. The bridge, adorned with such sculptures, connects the city to the Castel Sant'Angelo, once a mausoleum, fortress, and papal refuge.