Angel of Suffering, for St. Catherine Window, Christ Church, Oxford; verso: blank c. 1878

Curator: This is Edward Burne-Jones's sketch, "Angel of Suffering," intended for a stained-glass window at Christ Church, Oxford. Editor: The composition is striking; the somber expression immediately evokes a sense of quiet sorrow. Curator: Indeed. Burne-Jones was deeply involved in the aesthetic movement, and here, the angel embodies its values. Note the drapery; the lines create subtle tonal shifts that lead the eye. Editor: Those folds speak to the socio-political role of art in Victorian England. It’s a beautiful and elegant figure, offering compassion in the face of a rapidly changing society. Curator: Precisely. The artist's command of line and form allows the drawing to exist as a study while hinting at the larger narrative. Editor: It’s quite profound how a simple sketch captures such emotion and speaks to the cultural anxieties of its time. Curator: A poignant reminder of art’s capacity to express the human condition.