Ascanius (detail)Gian Lorenzo Bernini

In this poignant detail from Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius (1618–19), the child Ascanius clasps a small flame, symbolizing Troy’s sacred fire and Rome’s destined rebirth. Bernini captures not only the boy’s youthful innocence but also his quiet role as the vessel of a future empire, linking mythic past to imperial destiny.