The Red Cross c. 1918

Evelyn De Morgan made "The Red Cross" with oil paint on canvas and lots of feeling. The colours are muted yet vibrant, a little like stained glass, and the brushstrokes are so smooth it’s like the whole image is breathing. You can tell she really cared for the people, the idea of angels, and the concept of transcendence. Look at the way the red of Christ’s robe contrasts with the white robes of the angels, and how the red echoes in their wings. The folds in the fabric look very much like the soft folds of skin on the body. And then there are those rainbow-colored arches surrounding each angel – it’s as though they’re emitting or holding divine light. It's this constant exchange of light and shadow and shape and colour that allows this piece to glow. I'm put in mind of William Blake - there's the same visionary quality, a similar rendering of the human form. What I like most is the way this painting opens up possibilities – for thinking about art, but also for feeling and for being.