John Maine and Derix Glasstudios, Ascension window (2017), Hereford Cathedral.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

John Maine and Derix Glasstudios, detail of Ascension window (2017), Hereford Cathedral.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Hereford Cathedral, Herefordshire

Address

Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin and St Ethelbert, Cathedral Close, Hereford HR1 2NG

Theme

Anglican Cathedrals in England (43)

Comments by

Peter Hildebrand

Overview

Principally Victorian glass, from some of the leading firms, together with fragments of medieval glass, occasionally in combination, as in the north-east transept.

Of the Victorian windows the great south transept, 1895, stands out. It is the largest surviving Kempe Studio window in Britain and the final achievement of John Thomas Carter (1848-1901). Carter, according to the Kempe expert Adrian Barlow, “is arguably the artist most closely involved in establishing the Kempe style.”

Notable post-Victorian glass includes the Stanbury Chapel by A. J. Davies (1923), the Traherne window by Tom Denny (2007), and the Ascension window by John Maine RA, as detailed below.

Highlight

Ascension window, south wall of the nave

Artist, maker and date

Reason for highlighting

One of the most exciting aspects of contemporary stained glass is the engagement of artists not otherwise known for their work in the medium. Here Hereford stands out as the window has been made part of a larger installation. Asked to create a work to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the SAS in 1941, John Maine designed both a new window, of more than 3,000 pieces of glass in 40 colours, and the magnificent sculpture below it, to create a complete installation.

Artist/maker notes

John Maine RA (b.1942) studied sculpture at the West of England College of Art (1960-64) and the Royal College of Art (1964-67). He is well known for making large outdoor sculptures in stone which explore the possibilities of sculpture in relation to landscape and architecture, for example, his large-scale sculpture sequence around Howden Minster in East Yorkshire. More intimate works include the memorial stone for Stephen Hawking in Westminster Abbey.

Source: John Maine website

Derix Glasstudios, Taunusstein, Germany, was founded in 1866 and has a fine reputation for operating at the forefront of technology to realise the designs of artists and architects.

Source: Derix Glasstudios website

Highlighted dates at this location

2017 (Go to date search)