Saint John the Evangelist (Design for a stained-glass window, Bradford Cathedral) 1863

Curator: This is Ford Madox Brown's "Saint John the Evangelist," a design for a stained-glass window meant for Bradford Cathedral. Editor: It strikes me as unfinished, almost tentative. The drawing is spare, highlighting the figure's elongated form, those simple sandals... Curator: Note the eagle, the symbol so inextricably linked with John. It speaks to the soaring, revelatory nature of his Gospel. Editor: But consider the practical challenges. Brown’s design would demand careful planning of the glass cutting and leading to capture that sense of light. Curator: And the figure embodies that tension between the earthly and divine, the human John touched by the spirit. Editor: I am still struck by the labor and skill required to translate this drawing into something so monumental and permanent. Curator: Absolutely, a fascinating intersection of material and meaning. Editor: A thought that deepens my appreciation, thank you.