Altaar 1857 - 1859

Here is a sketch for an altar, carefully drafted by Pierre Cuypers. The altar's design incorporates the pointed arches and ribbed vaults of Gothic architecture, a style deeply intertwined with religious symbolism. Consider how similar arches appear in reliquaries across Europe. They serve not only as structural elements, but also as frames that elevate sacred relics. Gothic architecture, with its upward-reaching lines, embodies a reaching towards the divine, a visual metaphor for spiritual transcendence. This visual language speaks to our collective memory. We may see echoes of this aspiration in the pointed arches of a Gothic cathedral or the delicate curves of a Byzantine icon. This demonstrates the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, constantly evolving and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.