Robert Stewart; James Gross

Robert Stewart and James Gross were collaborating artists active in 1936, whose work is prominently associated with the index of american designs. Their creative output during this period focused primarily on meticulous illustration and decorative arts, often suitable for museum-quality reproduction and display.

The documented works attributed to Stewart and Gross center on religious and narrative themes, specifically the creation of illuminated designs based on biblical parables. Five works are represented in major institutional holdings. These include a series focusing on specific narratives, such as Illuminated Parable: The Rich Fool, Illuminated Parable: The Tares, and Illuminated Parable: The Wedding. Other documented pieces include multiple versions of the theme, Illuminated Parable: The Sower.

These works are preserved in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Art, establishing their historical significance within the Index project. Today, the detailed nature of these designs makes them valuable historical documents, with many available as high-quality prints and downloadable artwork.