Lot 300: John La Farge (American, 1835-1910) Study for Side Lancets of Facade Windows, Trinity Church, Boston, c. 1880 Unsigned, stamped with La

John La Farge (American, 1835-1910)

Study for Side Lancets of Facade Windows, Trinity Church, Boston, c. 1880 Unsigned, stamped with La Farge's personal seal in red l.c., inscribed "Trinity Church/ side windows of W. Side" l.c., numbered "G 2218" on the mount l.c., numbered "116" on a label affixed to the mount.
Watercolor and graphite, sheet size 6 11/16 x 2 in., framed.
Provenance: Estate of John La Farge, New York, 1910-1911; [sale, American Art Association, New York, 29-31 Mar. 1911 (864)]; purchase, Otto Weir Heinigke Sr., New York, 1911-d. 1915; his son, Otto Weir Heinigke Jr., New York, 1915-1957; purchase, Frederick L. Leuchs, Monterey, MA, 1957-1984; Sean M. McNally, Ridgewood, N.J., private collection, New Jersey.
Exhibitions: William Vareika Fine Arts, Newport, John La Farge: An American Master (1835-1910), 14 Jul.-30 Sept. 1989, no. 38
N.B. We wish to thank Dr. James L. Yarnall for his assistance with cataloguing the lot.

Between 1880 and 1883, La Farge executed a tall, three-lancet facade window for Trinity Church, Boston. The window consists of a figure of Christ Preaching in the central lancet, with two flanking lancets of architectonic shapes in a Byzantine style. According to Dr. James L. Yarnall, the present work is a study for the side lancets, corresponding closely to the final design of the two side lancets. It was the first folio in a portfolio of drawings purchased by Otto Weir Heinigke Sr. at La Farge's estate sale in 1911.