Ontwerp voor het altaar van de Saint-Leu in Parijs 1738 - 1749

Antoine Hérisset made this design for the Saint-Leu altar in Paris on paper, sometime in the 18th century. The design doesn't use traditional art materials like oil paint or marble, but everyday materials like pen and paper. The drawing emphasizes the altar's material qualities, showing us its texture, weight, and form, and it reflects the skilled traditions of architectural drawing. The inscription below the image tells us that it was printed and sold commercially. Prints like this, were part of the wider production of images and ideas at the time, circulating knowledge of design and architecture. The amount of work involved in the production process – from the initial design to the final print – highlights the labor that went into creating these objects. Looking at the materials, making, and context helps us understand the drawing's full meaning, and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.