Hoogaltaar in de basiliek van de abdij van de heilige Ulrich en Afra 1626

Daniel Mannasser created this drawing of the high altar in the Basilica of St. Ulrich and Afra in Augsburg in the 17th century, a period marked by religious conflict and the rise of Baroque art. The drawing captures the Basilica altar's grandeur and spiritual intensity. In a society deeply shaped by religious beliefs, such altars served as focal points for communal worship. They reinforced a strict social hierarchy, with the clergy mediating between the divine and the laity. How do such spaces promote spiritual reflection while also reflecting the power structures of the time? Mannasser's detailed rendering offers insight into the opulence of religious art, a key element of the Counter-Reformation's attempt to revitalize Catholic piety. The emotional power of the image encouraged devotees to participate in the divine narrative. It is a moment in history captured through art.