Study for central figure in ‘Spirit of Religious Liberty…guiding the ships’ mural at the state capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 

This is Edwin Austin Abbey’s study for the central figure in his ‘Spirit of Religious Liberty…guiding the ships’ mural, located at the state capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Executed in pastel, it is a preparatory work for a larger allegorical painting meant to enshrine the virtues of religious freedom. The figure, nude and without a face, gestures as though warding off an unseen force. The rendering of Liberty as a woman has deep roots in Western art. Yet, stripping her of distinct facial features asks us to look beyond traditional representation. What does it mean to depict freedom without a clear identity? Is it a universal ideal, or does it require a reckoning with the particularities of race, gender, and class? Ultimately, the sketch captures a moment of searching. It reflects the ongoing negotiation between historical ideals and contemporary values, inviting us to consider the complex relationship between religious liberty and identity.