Architectural Decoration, Design for an Altarpiece: Scene under a Wide Vault Supported by Two Pairs of Columns 

Curator: This is Sir James Thornhill's "Architectural Decoration, Design for an Altarpiece: Scene under a Wide Vault Supported by Two Pairs of Columns." Editor: It has an unfinished yet grand feel, like peering into a faded dream of classical triumph. Curator: Indeed, it is a design, likely intended for a large church altarpiece. Thornhill was known for his monumental decorative schemes. The design reveals how religious imagery could reinforce social hierarchies. Editor: Right, note the arrangement of figures—the Holy Family at the center, attended by magi and noble figures. But also, consider the symbolism of the dove. Curator: The dove often represents the Holy Spirit. Here, placed above what appears to be an altar, it is part of the scene's theological architecture. Editor: It also can highlight the complicated relationship between faith, power, and the art used to mediate these ideas. Curator: It's fascinating to consider how the design itself performs its cultural work, even in this preliminary form. Editor: Exactly. And reflecting on its unrealized scale gives us a different sense of the ambition tied to the Church in this era.