Design for Old Testament Window c. 1870

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, made this watercolor design for an Old Testament window to be installed in a church. Rossetti and the Pre-Raphaelites sought to revive the sincerity and simplicity they associated with pre-Renaissance art. In this design, Rossetti visualizes stories from the Old Testament, reflecting on themes of faith, sacrifice, and divine intervention. The figures, framed by Gothic architectural details, have emotional depth. Rossetti's choice to focus on Old Testament stories highlights the timeless nature of spiritual struggles, connecting the personal with the historical. The window design embodies a longing for a more spiritually connected world, contrasting with the growing industrialization of Victorian England. Through the window’s narratives and Rossetti’s artistic interpretation, we encounter a meditation on faith, doubt, and the search for meaning, themes which resonate across time.