Design for the Interior of the East End of a Church 1600 - 1697

Melchor de Aguirre made this ink drawing, "Design for the Interior of the East End of a Church," sometime before his death in 1697. It’s a study of space and how the church can both inspire awe and invite devotion. Consider the period, most likely, this drawing was made in colonial South America, where the Catholic Church played a dominant role in nearly every aspect of life. The design suggests a desire to reflect the grandeur of God and the power of the church through impressive architecture. The columns and arches create a sense of height and openness, drawing the eye upward, towards heaven, reinforcing the hierarchical structure of religious authority. At the same time, the symmetry and attention to detail reflect a more ordered and structured society. Looking at architectural drawings such as this, alongside historical records, we begin to understand the ways in which religious institutions shaped the cultural landscape of the time.