Dear Trinity Church and friends,
On the lower north wall of Trinity Church, you will find “Faith”, a stained glass window by Burlison & Grylls of London, installed in 1877-1878. It was given in memory of Charles Hook Appleton and Isabella Mason by their teenaged daughters Julia and Marian Alice, known as The Appleton Sisters. The Appleton Sisters were darlings of high society and extremely close. They lived together on Beacon Street and purchased adjoining properties in Lenox, MA. Eventually, the oldest daughter Julia met noted architect Charles McKim. Before founding his own firm of McKim, Mead and White, McKim had apprenticed with H. H. Richardson. He was also a colleague and friend of the artist John La Farge. Julia’s sister, Alice, met George Von Lengerke Meyer. Both couples married on the same day, June 24, 1885, at their summer home in Lenox.
As did many families of their social circle, the McKims traveled extensively throughout Europe. In Venice they made frequent visits to the art galleries and, reportedly, in that city was one of Julia’s favorite paintings, Titian’s Presentation of the Virgin, 1534-1538.
In 1886, a journalist noted that “Miss Julia Appleton, now Mrs. McKim, has always made people talk of the old masters. She is a splendid beauty, “massive,” very large and very gorgeous, and she has been painted by Porter, which is the modern immortality of a great beauty. She dressed for the Vanderbilt ball as Berengaria, and a noble figure she looked in brown and green, a robe embroidered with jewels, and her whole person sparkling with jewels. Her really Titanesque red hair and fine complexion made this a great success. … the music played “I Duo Doscari,” and we seemed to see Venice.”
Tragically, in 1887, Julia died during childbirth. The child did not survive. Her husband Charles was devastated. Her funeral took place at Trinity Church on January 7 of that year with Rev. Phillips Brooks officiating.
Shortly thereafter, her grieving husband and sister commissioned artist John La Farge to create a window in Julia’s memory. As inspiration, La Farge selected to focus on a small portion of Titian’s Presentation of the Virgin’s large canvas. The window was designed and completed within five months. When unveiled, some reputed it to be one of the finest specimens of stained glass art in America.
The window depicts a young girl climbing steps symbolizing Julia’s ascent toward heaven. Below this image, and considered separate from the story, is the image of an angel playing a musical instrument. La Farge’s early sketch can be found at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the actual window is located on the upper south wall of the church.
Over the years McKim continued to find ways to honor his wife. For instance, when designing the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, he commissioned artist Frederic Macmonnies to sculpt a figure to adorn the courtyard fountain. Featuring a Bacchante holding a child, the sculpture was removed in 1897 because some thought the piece immoral. It was given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. But tastes change. In 1999 a replica was installed in the courtyard as part of the McKim building restoration.
Three years before his death in 1909, McKim gave a gift to the President and Fellows of Harvard College to establish the Julia A. Appleton Traveling Fellowship in Architecture. This gift was made as a permanent foundation for a traveling fellowship in architecture.
Until next month,
Cynthia
Sources and Further Reading
Newspaper Sources
- Connubialities. Omaha Daily Bee. June 6, 1885, Omaha, NE, p.8.
- Marriage of the Appleton Sisters. New York Tribune. June 26, 1885, New York, NY, p. 5.
- Men, Women, and Art. Worcester Daily Spy. June 1, 1887, Worcester, MA, Volumber 42, Issue 129, p. 2.
- Mrs. Julia Appleton McKim Death. Boston Evening Transcript. January 56, 1887, p. 8.
- Our New York Feuilleton. The Indianapolis Journal. April 18, 1886, Indianapolis, IN, p. 3.
Online Resources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchante_and_Infant_Faun
- https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/architecture/fellowships-prizes-and-travel-programs/julia-amory-appleton-traveling-fellowship-in-architecture/
Inspiration
Photo Source
- Allen & Rowell. Julia Appleton McKim (Mrs. Charles McKim). 1885. Web. 07 Jan 2025. <https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/rj430q728>.
- Charles Follen McKim by Frances Benjamin Johnston https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2001704023/