Four Interior Façades of the Holy Chapel of Loretto c. 17th century

Curator: This engraving, "Four Interior Façades of the Holy Chapel of Loretto," by Nicolas Cochin, presents a fascinating challenge. The precision and detail given to the architectural elements are quite striking. Editor: It's almost like a technical drawing, but also feels very decorative with all the chandeliers. What do you see in the way Cochin uses line and space here? Curator: Note how Cochin meticulously delineates each architectural plane, using line weight to create depth. The composition is rigidly divided, emphasizing the chapel's structure. How does the symmetry affect your interpretation? Editor: It feels very ordered, but also a little flat, maybe? I see how that formal approach emphasizes the architectural form. Curator: Precisely. Cochin’s focus is on the chapel’s intrinsic structure, rendering the spiritual space as a series of geometrical relationships. The abstraction elevates form above mere representation. A fascinating exercise in perspective. Editor: I hadn't considered the abstraction before, focusing on the realism. I see it now.