Samuel (Cartoon for Lady Chapel east window) 1872

Edward Burne-Jones made this preparatory drawing for a stained-glass window, likely in the late 19th century, using graphite on paper. The image depicts the prophet Samuel in a flowing garment. Burne-Jones masterfully utilizes graphite to capture the subtle gradations of light and shadow that define Samuel's form, and the drapery that envelops him. The weight of the lines vary, to suggest Samuel's three-dimensional form. This is not just a drawing, but a cartoon – a full-scale preparatory design intended to guide the fabrication of the final stained-glass window. This reveals the labor-intensive process behind stained glass, involving skilled artisans cutting, painting, and assembling pieces of colored glass. The social context of this work lies in the Arts and Crafts movement, which elevated craftsmanship as a response to industrialization. Burne-Jones sought to revive the tradition of handmade art, integrating fine art and craft.