Study for a Stained Glass Window: Saint James the Less 19th-20th century

Curator: Kenyon Cox created this preparatory drawing, titled "Study for a Stained Glass Window: Saint James the Less." Editor: My immediate impression is one of classical serenity, almost austere in its simplicity. Curator: The figure of Saint James holds cultural weight. As 'the Less', he represents humility, challenging societal hierarchies of power. The lilies he holds symbolize purity and resurrection, notions deeply intertwined with religious and social reformation. Editor: I notice the halo, the book, and the lilies; they are all conventional signifiers, instantly recognizable even today. The bare foot, however, feels like a more intimate detail, connecting him to the earth. Curator: Exactly. Cox, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was grappling with the role of religious imagery in a rapidly secularizing world. This piece invites us to consider how traditional symbols adapt to reflect shifting social values. Editor: It makes you think about how visual language evolves, and yet certain images continue to resonate across centuries. Curator: Indeed, a dialogue between past and present. Editor: A powerful interplay, even in this study.