Design for part of a Vaulted Ceiling of a Church 17th century

Editor: So, here we have an architectural drawing, "Design for part of a Vaulted Ceiling of a Church," from the 17th century, created by an anonymous artist. It looks like it’s made using brown ink, perhaps a print as well? It feels…ornate. Quite baroque, wouldn't you say? All those swirling patterns, faces and coffers. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: "Ornate" is the word, isn’t it? It reminds me of sugar work – all that incredible, impossibly detailed frosting you see on cakes from that era. Except this frosting is meant to elevate you, quite literally! Think about lying on your back in a cool, dark church, gazing up at this… what does it whisper to you? Do you see triumph, perhaps? Maybe just the sheer mastery of design? Editor: Triumph, definitely. But also maybe a little bit… claustrophobic? There’s so much going on! All these faces staring down at you. It's also interesting to think about the intent behind the image. It’s not the ‘finished’ artwork but a drawing, right? A step in the design. Curator: Exactly! It’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the creative process. This drawing lets us be a fly on the wall while the design of this vault takes form. We’re seeing the bones, if you will, of something meant to inspire awe. I love that vulnerability, it allows the viewers into the artwork's creative journey. And who knows, maybe those "claustrophobic" faces you see were intended to be comforting guardians. I do find the interplay of control and improvisation delightful here! Don't you agree? Editor: Absolutely! Seeing that planning stage definitely gives a different appreciation to the end result, or at least, helps in imagining how that end result could have looked. Thank you for a new point of view! Curator: And thank you for sharing your claustrophobia! Art is meant to make us feel, even if it's a little uncomfortable, isn't it?