2024

18x24 inches

Charcoal on Paper

This is an experimental sketch regarding architecture during the late Imperial period in the heartland of the Celestial Empire from my book, All Under Heaven. After the Great Fall, Aurei religious architecture was heavily influenced by pre-Fall Slavic and Greek Orthodox influences, adopting the dome, pendentive, and cerestory. Oil was increasingly used as the medium for painting ceilings and walls. This is reflected in this image. On the side, you can see an example of an Aurei-style column.