'Jesus and the Woman at the Well' Artist Unknown

Unknown, 'Jesus and the Woman at the Well', c.1920, stained glass, 116 1/8 x 69 7/8 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of Stanford C. Stoddard, 2013. This work is featured in the exhibition 'Earthbound and Heavenward'.

Though most Jews regarded the Samaritan woman’s lineage as undesirable, Christ extends his invitation of peace and salvation to all. Christ, the Living Water, sits upon the ledge of the well, holding a shepherd’s crook in his right hand and gesturing heavenward with his left. The woman, in reverent recognition of His divinity, leans forward to respond, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not . . .” (John 4:15). For years this exquisite window inspired the congregation of the old Presbyterian Church of Astoria in Queens, New York to partake of Christ’s Living Water. As in centuries past, such windows communicated profound teachings in an accessible visual language. This window was acquired prior to the church’s demolition in 2008. Another of the six original windows is placed in the Provo City Center Temple.