Miller, Joseph Hale
Joseph Hale Miller (1777-1842) was an important figure in the revival of stained glass at the beginning of the nineteenth century as a pioneer in the making of stained glass of authentically medieval construction, relying essentially on potmetal and lead rather than enamel colours.
A full assessment of Miller’s work in hindered by the relatively few examples that survive. A small example, shown opposite, is the east window (1816) of St Mary & All Saints, Whalley. The shields are mainly executed in enamel, but at the top are four figures of the Evangelists, surmounted by small gothic canopies, that use coloured glass to an extent that was unusual at the time.
Miller was also an acknowledged expert on the restoration of ancient and early modern stained glass. For example, his adaptation of sixteenth century German glass for the 7th Earl of Bridgewater at Ashridge Park (now in the Victoria and Albert Museum), which was undertaken from 1811 onwards, involved significant alteration and additions to make work of different sizes fit into the new setting. As was also the case with the sixteenth century French glass given to Southwell Minster in 1818.
Indirectly Miller also influenced the quality of the pot metal glass available to glaziers as in 1830 he awaken an interest in stained glass within the sixteen year old Charles Winston (1814-64), who would become a key figure in the nineteenth century revival of stained glass. A barrister by profession, Winston dedicated himself to the history of stained glass and wrote one of the most important books of the period. He was also significant in encouraging experiments in glass production that sort to rediscover the techniques of the medieval glaziers.
Sources:
Joseph Hale Miller (1777–1842) and the Revival of Gothic Glass Painting by Michael Kerney, The Journal of Stained Glass, Vol XXXIII (2009)
The Sixteenth Century Glass at Southwell Minster by Clare Hartwell (Unpublished paper, 2023)