Design for an Altar, Plate 3 from an Untitled Series of Designs for Altars 1745 - 1755

Editor: Here we have Jacob Gottlieb Thelot's "Design for an Altar, Plate 3 from an Untitled Series of Designs for Altars," created sometime between 1745 and 1755. It's an engraving, and my first impression is how incredibly ornate it is! It almost looks like something out of a dream, all swirling lines and cherubic figures. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: Ah, yes! A baroque fantasy, isn't it? For me, it’s the sheer theatricality of it all. This wasn’t just about religious devotion; it was about power, spectacle. The altar becomes a stage. Look at how the light seems to radiate from that cherub at the very top, cascading down the composition! Do you think that bold use of light influences how we perceive it? Editor: Absolutely! It draws your eye upward, emphasizing the altar's grandeur. It almost feels overwhelming. Was that the intention, do you think – to inspire awe? Curator: I suspect so. Baroque art often aimed to inspire strong emotions, a sense of the divine presence. Notice how the rigid geometric altar forms a foundation for more ethereal baroque stylings that swirl above! It is both grounded and transcendental all at once, a common baroque tenet. Where do your eyes lead you next? Editor: Probably to all those details at the altar's base! There's such fine detail with all the engraving. I can't even imagine trying to draw all of those tiny details myself. I have such newfound appreciation for Thelot's artistry. Curator: Indeed, this work serves as a window into the aspirations and beliefs of a bygone era, one infused with drama and fervor. Seeing these drawings makes me question the nature of divinity, but then I look back at the tangible geometry of this sacred design, and start wondering what our generation will be inspired to leave for the future. What will it look like?