Design for One Half a Chapel with the Dove of the Holy Ghost above the Main Altar, and a Statue of an Evangelist at right. 1700 - 1780

This drawing, made with pen and ink, wash, and watercolor, presents a design for a chapel, likely from the 17th or 18th century. The design features the Dove of the Holy Ghost and an evangelist, reflecting the period’s strong religious context and the Catholic Church’s prominent role as a patron of the arts. The image evokes the era's intense engagement with sacred spaces. Architectural drawings like this one were crucial for shaping these spaces, thereby influencing religious experiences. Made in the context of the Counter-Reformation, the design attempts to appeal to worshippers' emotions through grandiosity. The drawing also has something to tell us about the institutions of art at the time. Academic institutions shaped the training of artists, standardizing styles and promoting certain aesthetic values. Looking at these institutional settings, along with the social and religious contexts, will give us a richer understanding of the drawing.