Design for the high altar of the Gesù Nuovo, Naples

Art Historical Context

This exquisite preparatory drawing by Luigi Vanvitelli (1700–1773) captures the architect's vision for the high altar of the Gesù Nuovo, one of Naples' most iconic Baroque churches. Vanvitelli, a leading figure in 18th-century Italian architecture bridged Baroque opulence and emerging Neoclassical restraint. Trained under his father, Cosimo Fanzago, he brought precision and grandeur to ecclesiastical designs, reflecting the Catholic Church's enduring emphasis on awe-inspiring sacred spaces amid the Counter-Reformation's legacy. Rendered in graphite over meticulously ruled construction lines and compass work, the 20-1/16 x 14-7/16-inch sheet exemplifies the technical rigor of architectural drafting. These tools ensured geometric accuracy vital for translating grand concepts into stone—altars as focal points of worship, blending sculpture, ornament, and symbolism. Such drawings were blueprints for collaboration among masons, sculptors, and patrons, highlighting the era's fusion of art and engineering. A generous gift to The Metropolitan Museum of Art from Donald Oenslager in 1965, this work offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind Naples' vibrant architectural heritage, inviting us to appreciate the unseen labor behind sacred splendor.

About the Artist

Luigi Vanvitelli · 1700–1773

Born 12 May 1700; died 1 March 1773. Famous for his design for the Royal Palace at Caserta, built 1751. Vanvitelli was active in Rome, Naples and nearby towns, also Brescia, Milan and Genoa. Comment on works: Portraits