Altar with the Resurrection of Christ, plate 2 from: Nouveaux dessins d'autels à la romaine 1618 - 1682

This etching, "Altar with the Resurrection of Christ" by Jean Le Pautre, presents a vision of sacred architecture teeming with symbolic intent. Note the triumphant Christ rising, framed within an altar adorned with classical motifs. Winged angels, echoing ancient victories, kneel in devotion above the central panel; figures drawn from antiquity surround the altar, standing like solemn witnesses to the miracle. Consider the persistent motif of the ‘rising figure’ across cultures, from ancient Egyptian depictions of the pharaoh ascending to the heavens, to the Greek hero rising to Olympus. The 'rising figure' embodies aspirations of triumph over earthly constraints and hints at deeper, universal psychological longings. The emotional impact of the composition is immediate. Le Pautre masterfully utilizes the rising figure and surrounding figures to instill feelings of hope and spiritual transcendence. We are drawn into a visual narrative that touches upon our collective memories. Note how this symbol has been passed down through history, continually resurfacing to echo universal hopes.