Silver Communion Plate 1935 - 1942

Ella Josephine Sterling made this drawing of a silver communion plate with graphite on paper, but we don’t know exactly when. Look at how she’s built up the form with layer upon layer of delicate strokes, creating a soft, almost blurry effect. It’s like she’s coaxing the light to reveal the plate’s surface. Notice how the pencil marks are denser around the edges and where the light doesn’t quite reach, giving the plate depth and weight. The inscription “Christ Church, Georgetown, D.C.” is rendered with the same sensitivity, each letter carefully considered. I’m reminded of the drawings of Vija Celmins, who also used graphite to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow. But while Celmins is interested in the precision of observation, Sterling seems more concerned with the feeling of light, the way it caresses the metal, imbuing the object with a sense of reverence and quiet contemplation. It invites us to pause and consider the beauty in simple, everyday objects.