Jubal and Miriam

Art Historical Context

This monumental stained glass window, created between 1843 and 1848 by the Bolton brothers—William Jay and John—stands as one of the earliest and most ambitious examples of American stained glass. Measuring nearly twenty feet tall, it portrays the biblical figures Jubal, traditionally regarded as the inventor of musical instruments, and Miriam, the sister of Moses who led the Israelites in song and dance. Rendered in vibrant hues using vitreous glass paint, enamel, and silver stain, the window captures these figures surrounded by an array of instruments including lyres, lutes, horns, and drums. The Boltons, working in New York, helped revive medieval glazing techniques at a time when American stained glass was still in its infancy. Their innovative approach combined rich color with detailed painting on glass, creating luminous effects suited to both church and civic settings. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum’s American Wing, the window highlights the brothers’ role in establishing a distinctly American tradition of the medium while drawing on deep biblical and musical themes. Visitors today can appreciate how the work celebrates music’s sacred and communal power, its grand scale inviting contemplation of harmony between faith, art, and sound.

About the Artist

William Jay Bolton|John Bolton ( | ) · 1816 |1818 –1884 |1898

British, 1816–1884|British, 1818–1898