John La Farge: The Dawn (1899)

Gallery Text: The Dawn is based on a preparatory drawing (also in Harvard’s collection) for the decoration of the New York City residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Although that composition was abandoned, it must have captivated the artist, for he returned to it almost twenty years later in this painting. Indebted to the work’s initial conception as a mural, the arching, elongated figure of Dawn has a bold, linear quality that can be easily read from across a room, while the creamy peach, purple, and turquoise tonalities are decorative without being overpowering. La Farge’s interest in light effects and color harmonies had already inspired his invention of opalescent — also known as “American” — stained glass, which the artist used in numerous commissions, including the translation of The Dawn into a window for the Brooklyn residence of philanthropist Frank Lusk Babbott in 1903.

"Decency can be a reliable partner but makes a lousy co-conspirator."

Decency can be an unreliable co-conspirator because he just won’t do some things. When co-conspiring, things tend to work best if the conspirators can maintain as much latitude for action as humanly possible, and Decency can be relied upon to feel squeamish at inconvenient times. Indecency cares little for propriety and easily oversteps boundaries. It can inadvertently wander into ethically dangerous territory in the passion of some pursuit, while Decency will more likely notice when he loses his moral compass heading. Even when a rule’s unjust, Decency’s less likely to try to bust through it, and will more probably find some way to discreetly weasel their way around it instead. All that said, Decency will not agree to do just anything. Decency maintains high standards.

Decency believes it matters how the game gets played. Winning and losing can always be sublimated to higher purposes, and whether one wins or loses, Decency remembers the manner of play more than they ever remember any final score. This focus can anger the more partisan supporters who won’t mind bending rules to secure a win that Decency couldn’t live with themselves after. Guilt plays some part in respecting such Edges. It seems as though Decency believes somebody’s watching even when nobody could possibly be. It’s as if a guardian angel hovers nearby, protecting him from himself, and Decency never loses his awareness of that presence. Decency’s always chaperoned and therefore never free to roam just anywhere. He tends to stay close to the straight and narrow.

Decency decides to take one for the team. He’s rarely mean, though he can be damned insistent, especially when innocents are endangered. He will not tolerate hate, whatever the espoused justification. He can revile something without relegating it to eternal damnation. He believes salvation can manifest for anyone, regardless of their sin, and insists upon justice irrespective of the crime. Decency believes that everybody deserves a chance and also that everyone automatically owes some modicum of respect to everyone else, regardless. Short-sightedness disgusts Decency’s sensibilities, for he thinks almost exclusively in possibilities. He believes that limits inevitably increase creativity, that Edges tend to improve their content, and that rewards should match contributions; also, that punishments should fit the crime.

Decency struggles through demolition phases because he can always see alternative uses for almost everything discarded. He’d spend more time than warranted to see that unwanted obsoletes were successfully recycled. He’d rather inhabit a circular economy. Decency cannot tolerate intolerance or forgive malice. He’s likely to disappear from any initiative offending his necessarily delicate sensibilities. He can use brute force but only against genuine brutes, and remains capable of fighting with more ferocity than any half-dozen bullies. He expects respect and withholds his own only after he senses disrespect from another. He’s likely to mention his dissatisfaction before withdrawing if he senses any possibility for resolution. Otherwise, Decency’s unlikely to say anything as he quietly withdraws in disgust. Decency judges harshly, but he always judges himself first. Decency can be a reliable partner but makes a lousy co-conspirator.

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Tags: #Decency, #PureSchmaltz