Elevation of West Façade of a Church 18th century

Editor: This drawing, "Elevation of West Façade of a Church," dates back to the 18th century, by an anonymous artist. The lines are incredibly precise. I am immediately struck by the detail; there is a strong sense of order and clarity to it. What stands out to you? Curator: Oh, my dear, you are so right about that. Those clean, unwavering lines have such presence, don’t they? It transports me back to a time when architects and artists sought to revive the glories of classical antiquity. This drawing isn't just a facade; it is a manifesto! What is your gut feeling about the building that will become the finished church? Does this resonate with you as a worshipping place, or a proud testament to the community? Editor: It definitely has that aspirational vibe, the lines going toward the heavens. So this would have been cutting edge architecture at the time? Curator: Perhaps "cutting edge" is not the word. The spirit of Neoclassicism isn't so much cutting edge, as re-interpreting, it revives, like bringing spring after a long winter! See how the columns, arches, and symmetry are all drawn from the vocabulary of ancient Greece and Rome? But the architect doesn’t slavishly copy. He is after that perfect form, with a harmony that speaks of divine order, or at least humanity's ambition to understand it. What feeling does that cross atop the church inspire? Editor: A very calm assurance, I think. This piece offers an insight into the way people saw the world back then. Thank you, I never considered that point before. Curator: And thank you, dear Editor, you offered fresh eyes to an old drawing. I see things I have not appreciated so completely. It is after all about newness, renewal, that return of springtime.