Two Alternate Designs for an Altar 1700 - 1780

This is a drawing with ink on paper of "Two Alternate Designs for an Altar" held at the Metropolitan Museum. The sheet is divided vertically, presenting two distinct architectural concepts side by side. Each design features classical columns and arches, meticulously rendered with detailed ornamentation. The design on the left is austere, an exercise in pure structure. The design on the right features an elaborate, almost florid, vocabulary of Baroque motifs, adorned with angelic figures. The contrast is a study in polar opposites within architectural design: one stresses simplicity and geometric clarity; the other exuberance and dramatic flair. The division of the sheet into two distinct halves allows us to interpret this work as a visual essay, exploring the semiotic range within sacred architecture. The drawings challenge fixed meanings and reflect broader artistic and philosophical concerns by inviting ongoing interpretation.