Two Alternate Designs for an Altar
Medium
Pen and dark brown ink, brush and gray wash, over leadpoint or graphite, with ruled and compass construction
Dimensions
16 x 11 in. (40.7 x 27.9 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Leon Dalva Sr., 1965
Accession Number
65.654.64
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of 18th-century Italian Baroque, this delicate drawing presents *Two Alternate Designs for an Altar by an anonymous Piedmontese (1700–1780). Hailing from the Savoyard region of Piedmont—known for its grand churches and lavish religious commissions—these sketches envision ornate altar structures, likely intended for a Catholic chapel or cathedral. Such designs captured the era's dramatic flair, blending architectural precision with spiritual grandeur to inspire awe in worshippers. Crafted with meticulous technique, the sheet measures 16 x 11 inches and employs leadpoint or...