Life — September 21, 1916 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Patron Saint" This 1916 *Life* magazine page shows a stained-glass window depicting a robed female figure with a halo, flanked by two dark panels with ornamental tops. The caption labels it "THE PATRON SAINT." The image appears to be satirical religious artwork, likely commenting on a contemporary political or social figure being treated with quasi-religious reverence by supporters. The stained-glass format—typically used for holy figures in churches—suggests mockery of excessive veneration or idealization. Without additional context text on the page, the specific identity of who is being satirized remains unclear. However, the composition critiques the tendency to elevate certain public figures to saint-like status, a common *Life* magazine theme during this era of American politics.