Re: Re: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches
Design for stained glass, Bolton Abbey
Drawing: A.W.N. Pugin (c. 1840)
Source: RIBA British Architectural Library Drawings & Archives Collection
Stained glass was extremely important to Pugin. He delighted in the striking effects that could be gained from its rich colours and stylized forms. Also, as a devout Catholic, he employed stained glass for its potential to teach and inspire.
Dating from the end of his career, this drawing reveals Pugin’s expertise as a stained glass designer. One of a set of cartoons describing the life of Christ, this was prepared for the decorative firm of J.G. Crace, who had been commissioned by the Duke of Devonshire to begin the restoration of Bolton Abbey. Pugin’s glass was intended for its nave, the only part of the abbey to survive the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Like the Easter Sepulchre design for Cheadle, this is a working drawing. Scribbled all over the figures are notes for the craftsmen, indicating which colours should be used. These, however, do not detract from the drawing. Pugin’s ability to combine strong lines with a sense of movement is clear. And despite the simplicity of the figures, this scene possesses a great deal of emotion: the grief of Christ’s followers is inescapable.
