This is a finished design for the central panel of a stained glass window in the south aisle of All Saints, Selsley, Cloucestershire. The church was refurbished by the architect G.F. Bodley, who entrusted the making of stained glass to Morris and Philip Webb. They in turn recruited Rossetti, who was asked to make a series of designs for glass in the chancel as well as for the glass to which the present cartoon is related, showing The Sermon on the Mount, in the church’s south aisle. The standing figure of Christ is seen with hands raised as he preaches. Seated on the left of Christ, and to whom he faces, are the figures of the Virgin and Mary Magdalene, and behind them Saints John and James, while on the right, and to whom Christ turns his back, appear St Peter and Judas Iscariot. Several of Rossetti’s friends are said to have sat as models for the various figures; George Meredith, the novelist for the figure of Christ; Christina Rossetti for the Virgin, though the face is not unlike that of Elisabeth Siddal; Mary Magdelene bears a strong strong resemblance to Fanny Cornforth, whilst Algernon Swinburne and Simeon Soloman were said to be the models for St John and St James; William Morris as St Peter and Gambart, the art dealer (whom Rossetti disliked) as Judas. Another preparatory drawing for the window is in Leeds City Art Gallery.
