Presentation Drawing of a late Baroque Altar inside a Church
This large-scale presentation drawing shows a design for a late Baroque altar in an unidentified church in Central Europe. The altar is shown within an interior, either the choir or a chapel within the church, which emphasizes the scale and intended theatrical effect of the architectural structure. The design of the altar is characterized by a monumental broken pediment between which a representation of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove is mounted. Below, a crucifix is flanked by two statues of apostles, likely to be identified as Saint Simon the Zealot and Saint Paul. The choir or chapel is enclosed by a low balustrade on top of which two further statues have been placed. They represent cherubs or putti holding up instruments of the Passion of Christ, also known as the Arma Christie. Parts of the altar and the floor of the church have been treated to resemble colored marble. Strapwork decorations applied to the ceiling, walls, and in the balustrade suggest that the design dates from the late Baroque period.
Artwork Details
- Title: Presentation Drawing of a late Baroque Altar inside a Church
- Artist: Anonymous, Central European, 18th century
- Date: ca. 1720–30
- Medium: Pen and black and brown ink, brush and gray wash, watercolor, and metallic pigment
- Dimensions: Sheet: 21 5/16 × 16 7/16 in. (54.2 × 41.7 cm)
- Classifications: Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
- Credit Line: Purchase, PECO Foundation Gift, 2023
- Object Number: 2023.277
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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