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Study for "Sealing of the Twelve Tribes" Window

John La Farge

American Art

John La Farge modeled these four robed figures with delicate graphite strokes that create subtle silvery tonalities well suited to the ethereal subject matter—a scene from the Bible’s book of Revelation in which an angel places seals on God’s faithful servants to designate them for salvation.

A multitalented artist, La Farge is best known for his stained glass and mural painting. Drawing played a crucial role in such decorative projects, and this sheet was a study for a stained-glass window in Trinity Church in Buffalo, New York.
MEDIUM Graphite on yellow, translucent, smooth textured wove paper
DATES ca. 1889
DIMENSIONS sheet (Irregular): 16 3/8 x 8 in. (41.6 x 20.3 cm)  (show scale)
SIGNATURE Signed lower right in graphite: "J Lafarge"
COLLECTIONS American Art
ACCESSION NUMBER 13.1063
CREDIT LINE Gift of George D. Pratt
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION John La Farge (American, 1835–1910). Study for "Sealing of the Twelve Tribes" Window, ca. 1889. Graphite on yellow, translucent, smooth textured wove paper, sheet (Irregular): 16 3/8 x 8 in. (41.6 x 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of George D. Pratt, 13.1063 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 13.1063_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 13.1063_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010
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