John La Farge and the recovery of the sacred

Abstract

This collection offers a new look at American artist John La Farge (1835-1910) and his lifelong efforts to visualize the sacred. Most clearly reflected in his ecclesiastical paintings and stained glass windows, the latter of which appear in churches throughout the United States, La Farge's quest can be seen both in his representations of nature and still life and in his stunningly imaginative book illustrations. Multicultural and multilingual, La Farge was also influenced by travels to Japan and the South Seas, experiences that reinforced his spiritual inquiry.