1845-06-14 Bigelow Chapel Stained Glass: Jacob Bigelow to Ballantine & Allan (page 2)

lights of the upper compartments, exactly as
they ^^now stand in your designs. But the great
circular space in this window I wish filled, not
with the resurrection piece in your design, but with
an allegorical representation of Death, of which I send
you a design, in the roll, copied mainly from
Thorwaldsens Bas relief of Night, representing a
winged sleeping female and two infants. It is the
most beautiful & appropriate thing I ever saw have seen.

In the Rose window you will substitute
in the centre a design which is also inclosed in the
roll, and which is allegorical of Immortality. It
is copied from the two cherubs in Raphaels Madonna
del Sisto, who are here represented as gazing upwards
into a light or glory, which proceeds from an invisible
source. Raphaels picture is at Dresden. Some parts
of it, especially the cherub wings, are highly colored.
If you have good copies in Edinburgh, please to
imitate them, paying all attention to keep the expression of the faces.

Allow me to suggest an opinion that
the representation of Death in the northern window
should be executed in cold or sombre tints;
that of Immortality which fronts the sun, should
be in bright & dazzling colors. The field, or back
ground I leave to be managed by your own judgement