View of the Pulpit, Saint Sulpice, Paris (Second Project)

Charles de Wailly, French, 1729 – 1798 · 1789

A marble pulpit dramatically suspended between two flights of stairs, designed by de Waily, forms a bridge-like structure across the nave of the Church of Saint Sulpice. A priest, with upraised arms, preaches to the congregation seated in the foreground. A sculpture of Charity adorns the top of the pulpit. A sculpture of Faith (holding a chalice) adorns the left landing; the pedestal shows a bas-relief of the symbol of St. Luke (ox). On the right landing, a sculpture of Hope (holding an anchor) rests on a pedestal decorated with a bas relief of St. Mark's symbol (the lion).