Altarentwurf_ An den Säulen links der Heilige Petrus und die Heilige Margarethe, rechts der Heilige Paulus und die Heilige Ottilie; unten auf einem angesetzten Blatt der Grundriss des Altares 

This is Johann Baptist Straub's "Altarentwurf," a design for an altar, and it gives us a glimpse into the intersection of faith, identity, and artistic expression in 18th-century Bavaria. Straub, a key figure in a family of sculptors, lived during a time when the Catholic Church wielded considerable influence. Altars were focal points of religious life and cultural identity. Straub’s design features figures like Saint Peter and Saint Margaret, reflecting the church’s patriarchal structure and emphasis on female purity. Yet, the inclusion of Saint Ottilie, a patron saint of eyesight, also speaks to the emotional and personal dimensions of faith, offering solace and hope to individuals facing their own challenges. The altar was not merely a religious symbol, but a stage for social performances, reinforcing communal values. It both shaped and reflected the spiritual longings of the community it served.