Study of Altarpiece of Saint-Germer-de-Fly

American designer Francis Augustus Lathrop rendered this watercolor study of a medieval French altarpiece, documenting seven standing saints in gilded relief. The figures display characteristic Gothic stylization—elongated forms, flowing drapery, and individual attributes marked by halos. Lathrop's precise notation of the original's color and decorative patterning reveals his architectural training and interest in medieval ecclesiastical design. Created during his early career, this study exemplifies the 19th-century American engagement with European precedent, particularly the Gothic Revival movement that shaped decorative arts and architectural practice in the post-Civil War era.