The Resurrection, c. 1906
(Study for the Gilbert Memorial Window, Bloomingdale Reformed Church,
New York)
Graphite on buff white paper
2004.7
La Farge was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 1889 for his work in the creation of opalescent glass windows. His opalescent glass windows have been compared to the medieval stained glass windows in the Cathedral at Chartres, which the artist visited in 1899 with his good friend Henry Adams. In his famous book, The Education of Henry Adams, the author described the artist: “In conversation La Farge’s mind was opaline with infinite shades and refractions of light, and with color toned down to its finest gradations. In glass it was insubordinate; it was renaissance; it asserted his personal force with depth and vehemence of tone never before seen.”
The process of manufacturing stained glass windows began with the execution of drawings and watercolor sketches by La Farge. These would be reviewed by the commissioning entity (private party or church or other institutional committee) for approval. Upon approval, these preliminary sketches would be amended or presented to the La Farge studio for implementation into leaded glass. At times, the sketches would be enlarged by La Farge to cartoons which were the actual size of the proposed window.