Mary Magdalene

Morris & Co. produced furnishings, textiles, wallpapers, ceramics, and printed books. The Firm also produced stained glass windows for churches, as seen in this design for a window depicting Mary Magdalene. The figure’s features are those of Morris’s wife, Jane, whose masses of thick, wavy hair make her one of the most recognizable models of the Pre-Raphaelite circle. Morris’s interest in patterned textiles is evident in the rich pattern of scrolling vines and flowers on her robe. This drawing is a cartoon, used by the craftspeople cutting and painting the glass for the window. The thick outlines around the figure’s head and arm indicate where the sections of glass would be held together by lead (2022).