Design for a Monumental Altar, Plate L from 'Unterschiedliche Neu Inventierte Altäre mit darzu gehörigen Profillen u. Grundrißen.' 1745 - 1755

Johann Michael Leüchte made this print, Design for a Monumental Altar, using etching and engraving. The print depicts a highly ornamented design for a church altar. The image creates meaning through visual codes associated with the Catholic Church, such as the cross at the top. Angels and religious figures stand in poses that suggest a scene of worship. It was made in Augsburg, Germany. As part of the Holy Roman Empire, Augsburg was a center of both Catholicism and the Baroque artistic style. The Catholic Church's patronage of the arts, architecture, and music served as a way of visually communicating religious ideas. The print provides an insight into the social conditions that shaped artistic production at the time as well as the religious and institutional history of the region. The historian may use sources such as period documents and Catholic Church records to better understand the social and institutional contexts that influenced the creation of this work. This design highlights the connection between art, religious expression, and social forces.