Fragment of Reredos c. 1940

Edward Jewett made this Fragment of Reredos with what looks like watercolors, and it's all about layering and luminosity. It’s like he’s building up this sacred space one careful wash at a time. Look at the Madonna. See how the red of her dress glows against the blue background? It's not just flat color; there's a real depth to it, a kind of radiating warmth. The halos and arches kind of give it a Byzantine feel, all that gilding - but the angels are pure Renaissance sweetness. Now, check out the columns framing her. The way Jewett scored and striated the pigment suggests a texture and depth, like real marble catching the light. You can almost feel the coolness of the stone against your fingertips. That textural element reminds me of some of Marsden Hartley's religious imagery - they both have this folk-art take on the holy. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art isn’t about perfection; it’s about the messy, beautiful, and endlessly fascinating process of trying to capture something just beyond our reach.