Skylight panel from a set of six 1913

This skylight panel is one of a set of six made by William Gray Purcell; it’s made of glass and metal. Imagine Purcell working on this commission. How was this thing made? He must have been working to strict geometries and precise dimensions, which were probably dictated by architectural plans. I’m struck by the light coming through each coloured glass panel, how each catches and reflects the light differently. The square borders have these little out-roads, like off-ramps, or tiny escape routes. I can imagine Purcell thinking about those spaces and how he could make the light dance. There’s such beauty in seeing how artists manage to create something so visually expressive and emotionally affecting, even when working within what seems to be a rigid framework. I think the light in this work shifts the geometric into something ethereal. The whole thing opens up an idea. It’s an ongoing conversation, this art thing.