Artwork
Design for an Altar
Design for an Altar is a chalk drawing by the Renaissance artist Giovanni Battista Castello. It dates from 1554 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in brown ink: S.F. No. 72' (for 'Scuola Fiorentina')]; lower right in brown ink: dal Salone(?); by later hand, center verso in brown ink: 15 a(?)
About this work
Overview
Design for an Altar is a drawing by Giovanni Battista Castello, created around 1554. It is a pen and ink work with brown wash on laid paper, held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a hypothetical altar framed by columns and topped with a curved arch featuring a checkerboard pattern. The altar's sides are adorned with carved details, suggesting a design for a church or chapel. The empty central space implies that this is a preliminary plan rather than a representation of an existing structure.
Technique & Style
Castello employed pen and brown ink with brown wash to create a sense of depth and volume. The use of varying line weights and possibly cross-hatching techniques contributes to the drawing's three-dimensional appearance.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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