Studies of Angels etc. for the Dome of St Paul’s c. 1862 - 1867

Curator: Looking at this work, “Studies of Angels etc. for the Dome of St Paul’s” by Alfred Stevens, I am struck by the raw, vulnerable, even spiritual nature of the artist's hand. It's like catching a glimpse into the artist’s very soul. Editor: I feel a sense of grand ambition, mixed with architectural precision. There’s a real tension between the ethereal angels and the solid buildings, a dialogue between heaven and earth right on the page. Curator: Absolutely! The angels seem to be swirling around these rigid architectural forms, almost as if Stevens were trying to reconcile the divine with the physical constraints of the dome. He was definitely reaching for something beyond mere representation. Editor: Knowing Stevens was thinking about St. Paul's, it feels like he’s grappling with the weight of tradition, of civic responsibility, trying to find his own voice within such a monumental project. These studies are more than just preparatory sketches. Curator: Yes, it's more like a visual meditation, a dance between the sacred and the secular—I think that searching quality is what makes the work so compelling. Editor: It is a wonderful glimpse behind the scenes, like we are discovering the origin of an epic artistic vision.