Design for an Altar
1554
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1554
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a blank altar framed by two tall columns. Above it, a curved arch has a checkerboard pattern and small decorative shapes. The sides of the altar have carved details like faces and scrolls, and the whole thing looks like a sketch for a church or chapel. The empty space in the middle suggests this is just a plan—not a real altar. The artist used ink and wash to make the lines look three-dimensional. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with lines like these.
![Palatial Mantelpiece with Mercury and Hope [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/35fcb50c5d0e2044/thumb.webp)
