Design for an Aedicular Altar with St. Paul at the Left 1740 - 1779

This 18th-century design by Johann Georg Dirr is a watercolor drawing on paper for an aedicular altar, a type of altar common in Baroque and Rococo churches. The design features a large, ornate column with a statue of Saint Paul standing to the left. Above the column, a series of decorative elements, including putti and scrolls, adorn the top of the altar. The overall composition is typical of the Rococo style, characterized by its emphasis on light and airy forms, delicate ornament, and asymmetry. This design, likely intended for a specific church commission, exemplifies the Rococo era’s focus on elaborate detail and theatrical grandeur in religious spaces.