Two Alternate Designs for an Altar (?) 1700 - 1780

This drawing, made by an anonymous hand, presents two alternate designs for an altar, rich with symbols. Note the cherubs, or putti, which are prevalent across the image and in the artwork above. These figures, with their roots in classical antiquity as symbols of love and desire, transformed in the Renaissance to embody divine love, often found in sacred spaces. Consider how the cherub motif has travelled through time. Originally, they decorated pagan temples, then reappeared during the Renaissance, adorning churches and religious paintings. Here, these cherubs evoke a sense of spiritual innocence, perhaps even longing for a celestial connection. This altar design, brimming with symbols of faith and aspiration, offers a glimpse into the enduring human quest for transcendence. The cherubs’ persistent presence in art history embodies our collective subconscious need for beauty, love, and the divine.