Design of Main Altar
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-1378
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi (1746–1809), a prominent Italian architect and designer active during the late Baroque and emerging Neoclassical periods, this *Design of Main Altar*. an architectural drawing classified within the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, it represents the meticulous planning behind grand ecclesiastical spaces. Altars served as the spiritual and visual focal points of churches, blending artistry with devotion, and Barberi's work reflects Italy's rich tradition of ornate religious architecture during the 18th century. Though the medium remains unidentified amid ongoing re...