Carl Pier
Carl Pier was an architectural designer and printmaker active around 1745. His specialized work focused entirely on complex, large-scale ecclesiastical furniture and structures. Documentation indicates Pier was responsible for the creation of fifteen design books, which served as essential references for contemporary builders and craftsmen engaged in furnishing religious spaces.
The body of work represented in museum collections primarily consists of detailed engravings and technical drawings, illustrating his mastery of form and proportion suitable for Baroque or early Rococo interiors. A selection of Carl Pier prints is preserved in the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, establishing the historical significance and museum-quality of his output.
Specific designs represented in collections include plans for various interior fixtures, demonstrating his methodical approach to religious architecture. Examples include a series of plates detailing specifications for confessional booths, such as Design for a Confessional, Plate 1 and Plate 4, from an untitled series. His capacity for large-scale structural design is further confirmed by works such as Design for a Pulpit and the comprehensive Design for a Monumental Altar, which appeared in the volume Unterschiedliche Neu Inventierte Altäre mit darzu gehörigen Profillen u. Grundrißen.
Today, much of the preserved material documenting the activity of Carl Pier resides in the public domain, making his influential architectural drawings available as downloadable artwork for study and research.
