Artwork
Trinity Church, Boston (nave) - Mural Study
Trinity Church, Boston (nave) - Mural Study is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist John La Farge. It dates from 1876 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
John La Farge’s 1876 study for a mural in the nave of Boston’s Trinity Church is a preparatory drawing executed on gray‑blue wove paper. Rendered with graphite, pen, and brown ink applied both with a brush and directly, the work captures the spatial organization of the interior, focusing on the altar, columns, and decorative elements as a schematic guide for a larger composition.
Subject & Meaning
The sketch depicts the central aisle of the church, highlighting a towering altar adorned with intricate carvings and a modest framed panel that contains a three‑figure scene. Flanking the altar are elongated columns and ornamental reliefs, suggesting a harmonious blend of architecture and narrative imagery that La Farge intended to integrate into the final mural.
Technique & Style
La Farge employed a rapid, gestural approach, using loose lines and varied shading to convey volume and depth. The combination of graphite for structural outlines and brown ink for tonal modeling, applied both by pen and brush, creates a dynamic contrast that emphasizes architectural forms while allowing quick exploration of compositional ideas.
History & Provenance
Created as a working study for the actual mural that would later adorn Trinity Church’s nave, the drawing reflects La Farge’s preparatory process during the church’s post‑Civil War reconstruction. It remains part of the artist’s archival material, documenting the early stages of a significant commission that contributed to his reputation as a leading American muralist.
Artist & collection
Artist
John La Farge (March 31, 1835 – November 14, 1910) was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.
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