Skylight panel from a set of six 1913

This skylight panel, part of a set of six, was made by William Gray Purcell, though we don't know exactly when. Look at the way Purcell worked with color and line to create this geometric design. You can see how he’s not just filling in shapes but carefully arranging and layering different shades of glass. There’s something almost meditative in the way the colors interact, how the light filters through each tiny section. The use of lead to hold the glass together isn't hidden, but is proudly on display. The simple shapes become complex when arranged in this grid pattern. It reminds me of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, not least because of its angular symmetry, but I think Purcell brings a gentler touch to it, somehow. It feels both modern and timeless, doesn't it? A reminder that art is always in conversation, always building on what came before.