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Geoffrey Wallace - Stained Glass Observer 02 - Spring 2013
Geoffrey Wallace - Stained Glass Observer 02 - Spring 2013
2 - Spring 2013
A quarterly magazine devoted to observing and discussing Victoria’s stained glass heritage.
Featured Studio
Earley Studio, Dublin
Featured Style
Munich Style
F R O M T H E E D I T O R
The Contents
Stained Glass Observer 3 Feature Studio
Earley Studios, Dublin
This edition of The Stained Glass Observer features two totally different
approaches to glass painting, contrasting the 20th century Irish Style with the
19th century Munich Style of stained glass. 7 Window Awareness
Leaking Windows
Munich Style painters strove to even out the light passing through the glass
by applying a matte of glass paint over the entire window which, while still
9 Design Styles
retaining fabulous colour, tended to ‘flatten’ the visual effect. As a result,
Munich Style windows tend to glow rather than sparkle. They have an eveness Munich Style
of tone that makes them easier to read and appreciate the painted graphics but
they lack the ‘glassiness’ of the earlier Gothic Revival style. 14 Technical
In stark contrast, the Irish style of glass painting, pioneered by Harry Clarke How to Assess the Condition
in Dublin in the 1920s, will shimmer and dance before the eyes of the viewer in of a Window
a most delightful and exciting manner. This is achieved by retaining areas of
unpainted antique glass and contrasting them with heavy black diapering to 16 For Custodians
create a dynamic vibrancy of light and colour.
Photographing Stained Glass
Windows
Geoffrey Wallace. October 2013
17 Location of the Windows
What I discovered on entering the church caught me After making some enquiries, Barbara Krueger of the
completely by surprise as I was immediately Michigan Stained Glass Census, kindly came to my
overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the Great East assistance and sent me some, quite detailed,
Window. I just had not expected such a stunning information on the history of Earley Studios, provided
surprise and if I hadn't known what I was going to see in 1998 by Michael J. Earley, a descendant of the
I would have sworn it was a Harry Clarke window. I founder, Thomas Earley. What I discovered was a
was entranced by the shimmering, starry, jewel like remarkable story of 4 generations of stained glass
quality of the work. The colours! Oh, the colours! I painters and designers that had been present at the very
couldn't stop grinning and didn't want to leave. beginnings of Gothic Revival and had continued a
family run studio producing high quality stained glass
windows until 1975.
F E A T U R E S T U D I O
The studio’s founder, Thomas Earley, was trained brother John also worked for Hardman as a painter
as a gothic decorator by the famous gothic revivalist and draughtsman.
A. G. Pugin and worked on many projects with him
including the British Houses of Parliament . By the With a rush of orders following the International
mid 1840’s he was put in charge of the newly Dublin Exhibition of 1853 Hardman decided that the
formed corps of glass painters that had been time was right to set up an outlet in Dublin, so
established, at Pugin’s prompting, by John Hardman Thomas Earley and Edward Powell were sent along
in Birmingham to meet the increasing demand for to establish the Ecclesiastical Supplies Shop.
gothic revival stained glass. Thomas’ younger
F E A T U R E S T U D I O
The innovations of Harry Clarke were to live on masterwork is still a masterwork no matter who
long after his premature death in 1931 through not signed their name to it.
only his own studio but that of the Earleys and also
Hardman's in Birmingham.
Leaking Windows
Over time, leaded glass windows will cease to be
water tight and begin to allow moisture from the
outside to enter the building.
When cracks start appearing in the leadlight cement, the Grime build up where water has been entering
window is no longer waterproof
F O R C U S T O D I A N S
Leaking Windows
Another source of leaking water is through the Silicone sealant has no place anywhere near a
building fabric itself. As a general rule, water stained glass window and its use should be prohibited
entering through the degraded leadlight cement will on the windows under your care.
not be in sufficient volume to actually flow down the
window or wall, in these instances the water is
usually entering from somewhere else.
2.
Paint loss caused by extended periods of dampness Restored paint work after preventive conservation
D E S I G N S T Y L E S
3.
Munich Style
4.
D E S I G N S T Y L E S
Munich Style
7.
D E S I G N S T Y L E S
Munich Style
The scenes displayed in Mayer and Zettler
windows are panoramic with carefully constructed
landscape detail in the backgrounds. This was a big
departure from the two dimensional Gothic Revival
style where backgrounds were purely decorative or
symbolic. In Gothic Revival, images were usually
contained within a single, bordered opening whereas
with the new Munich Style the whole scene would
now flow across multiple lancets. People are clothed
in bejeweled and richly embroidered fabrics and the
backgrounds contain expansive landscapes, interiors
or intricately woven tapestries and finely laced cloths.
The abundant landscaping is reflective of the
Romanticist's belief that nature can be the source for
the spiritual experience.
9.
10.
D E S I G N S T Y L E S
Munich Style
11.
Munich Style windows contain more than just
beautiful pictorial themes, there is a rich symbolic
content in the designs meant to expand the viewer’s
understanding of Biblical teachings. The windows
usually contain a rich array of ecclesiastical
vocabulary. Frequently, saints are shown with their
personal symbols. St. Peter, for instance, is shown
holding the keys to heaven and earth, St. Luke is
seen with an ox and a winged lion is associated with
St. Mark. Specific flowers like the white lily is used
frequently either to represent purity or as a reference
to the Virgin Mary. Roses likewise represent Mary
with red roses alluding to her great despair or
perhaps a reminder of her heavenly bliss. Cypress
trees are meant, as references to death while the
palm trees are associated with martyrdom and Jesus'
entry into Jerusalem. Christ's halo is generally a
cruciform halo and Mary's halo sometimes contains
stars as a reminder of her status as Queen of
Heaven. Mary is uniformly youthful and displays a
sweet expression on her face. The apostle, John, is
rendered as a young man with flowing hair, while
Saint Peter is always the oldest looking apostle. The
complex and romantic iconography was intended to
enhance the spiritual experience of the viewer.
12.
D E S I G N S T Y L E S
Munich Style
Victoria has many beautiful Munich Style
windows by not only Mayer and Zettler but also by
the English studios of John Hardman and Clayton
& Bell and the Melbourne studios of Brooks
Robinson and William Montgomery, amongst
others.
13. 14.
15.
T E C H N I C A L
Stained Glass deteriorates very slowly over decades the fingers, should be tight as a drum due to the lateral
leaving the casual observer to seldom notice a pressure that is causing the problem. If there is any
developing problem until it is well beyond the critical movement or rattling of the glass a consultant should
stage. be contacted straight away as this condition eventuates
in ‘popping’ of the window and loss of glass.
To adequately asses the condition of a window you
will need an extension ladder with a cross bar lashed The exterior surface of the lead cames should be
to it to gain close visual access. For very high or inspected for fatigue cracks. These are often no larger
inaccessible windows a pair of binoculars or digital than a human hair and usually occur close to solder
photography can reveal much about the state of a joints. If these are apparent, remedial works should be
window that cannot be observed with the naked eye. arranged to prevent the progression to structural
The things to look for are as follows: failure.
Bulging or buckling of the lead structure can usually The leadlight cement may be either white, black or
be observed from ground level by standing hard up grey in colour and can be observed under the flanges
against the wall, under the window, and looking of the lead cames. Its purpose is to stiffen and bind the
straight up at the windows’ surface. structure together and also make the window
waterproof. It should appear as a continuous solid
If buckling is apparent the lead should be closely grout and be well adhered to both glass and lead. If it
inspected on the convex side for breaks in the lead displays cracks or sections that have been dislodged it
came. The bulging glass and lead, when tapped with requires attention.
Hairline crack in lead at solder joint. Lead crack has opened up causing window to split, exposing
raw edges of glass.
T E C H N I C A L
Rusting saddle bars can cause serious damage to masonry Extensive application of silicone has failed to prevent this
frames. stained glass panel from splitting.
F O R C U S T O D I A N S
16.
Cover. St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Melbourne. Clayton and Bell, London.
Frontispiece. St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Melbourne. Franz Mayer, Munich.
1. Sacred Heart Church, Carlton and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Warrnambool.
2 . Catholic Mortuary Chapel, Melbourne General Cemetery. Ferguson and Urie, Melbourne.
3. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Carlton. John Hardman & Co., Birmingham.
4. Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Kew. Brooks Robinson, Melbourne.
5. St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Melbourne. Franz Mayer, Munich.
6. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Carlton. John Hardman & Co., Birmingham.
7. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Middle Park. F. X. Zettler, Munich.
8. St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Melbourne. John Hardman & Co., Birmingham.
9. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Carlton. John Hardman & Co., Birmingham.
10. St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Melbourne. Franz Mayer, Munich.
11. Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Parkville. Brooks Robinson, Melbourne.
12. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Middle Park. F. X. Zettler, Munich.
13. Catholic Church of SS Peter and Paul, South Melbourne. F. X. Zettler, Munich.
14. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Carlton. John Hardman & Co., Birmingham.
15. St. Michael’s Independent Church, Melbourne. Brooks Robinson, Melbourne.
16. Christ Anglican Church, Geelong. Christisn Waller, Melbourne