Leicester Cathedral, Leicestershire
Address
Cathedral Church of St Martin, 2 Peacock Ln, Leicester LE1 5FQTheme
Overview
The cathedral came to international prominence with the interment of the remains of King Richard III, which was marked by the installation of two windows by Tom Denny in St Katherine’s Chapel in 2016. They are full of detail and symbolism and repay careful study.
The cathedral also offers the opportunity to compare the work of Christopher Whall, who made the East window, 1920, and the window highlighted below, with the work of his daughter Veronica, who made two windows in St Dunstan’s chapel, the Bardsley Memorial window, 1937, and the St Dunstan window 1946.
Highlight
John Sarson Memorial window, south of the west windowArtist, maker and date
Christopher Whall, 1907Reason for highlighting
Just to the south of the main west window , the John Sarson Memorial window includes a rare depiction of falling snow, within a window telling the story of St Martin. A quietly understated yet glowing tribute to the work of one of our greatest stained glass artists.
Artist/maker notes
Christopher Whitworth Whall (1849-1924) was one of the most prominent artists in the Arts & Crafts Movement, not only through his own work, but also through the influence he had on other artists as a teacher and writer. He taught at both the Central School of Arts and Crafts and the Royal College of Arts, and his 1905 book ‘Stained Glass Work’ is still widely regarded as the most inspirational practical book on the craft.
Sources:
Arts & Crafts Stained Glass by Peter Cormack (Yale University Press for The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, 2015)
The Stained Glass Work of Christopher Whall by Peter Cormack (The Charles J Connick Stained Glass Foundation, 1999)
Comments by
Peter Hildebrand