Stirling Castle, Stirling
Address
Stirling Castle, Castle Wynd, Stirling FK8 1EJTheme
Overview
There are a number of artists who have contributed to this website through their individual selections of 10 fine examples of British stained glass windows. While all naturally refrained from recommending their own work in the 10 selected, they have been asked to choose a window of their own that they feel reflects their personal work. This is Linda Cannon’s selection.
Highlight
The windows of the Royal Apartments, Stirling CastleArtist, maker and date
Linda Cannon and Rab MacInnes, 2011Reason for highlighting
The Royal Palace at Stirling Castle is one of the best-preserved Renaissance buildings in the UK and has been refurbished to look as it might have done around the early 1540s, at the time of James V and his French wife Mary of Guise.
Along with Rab MacInnes, I was commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland to design and make 54 bespoke windows to exactly match the style which “may” have once been in the King’s and Queen’s Apartments. (No pre-reformation stained glass remained in the castle). Our mutual interest in art, history, politics, conservation and attention to detail, provided a great platform to immerse ourselves in this unique project.
The rooms in the castle were stripped right back to bare stone. Painstaking research throughout archives and collections in the UK and France, provided a detailed knowledge of the materials, techniques and styles of the Jacobean and Guise courts of 16th century Europe, which was set up to rival that of Henry VIII south of the border, and of the Medici and Bourbon Courts in Europe. Everything in the apartments is new, which is an astonishing display of modern craftsmanship and historic accuracy.
Further images of the work can be seen at Cannon-MacInnes – Stirling Castle, Linda Cannon Stained Glass – Royal Apartments Stirling Castle and The Royal Palace – Stirling Castle
Artist/maker notes
Linda Cannon (b.1961) is an artist and conservator based in Glasgow. After graduating in 1983 from Glasgow School of Art with a degree in Fine Art and Design, specialising in stained glass, Linda spent 8 years as the stained glass conservator for the world famous Burrell Collection in Glasgow. The opportunity to study and carry out research into historical techniques and styles has since informed her own work both as a conservator and as a creator of new windows. After her time at the Burrell Collection, Linda worked in partnership with Rab MacInnes for 20 years on a variety of major projects. She currently runs her own studio, Linda Cannon Stained Glass.
Rab MacInnes (b. 1949) studied at the Glasgow School of Art and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. His painting and print work can be found in many domestic and international exhibitions. He is now based in Glasgow where he specialises in solving difficult stained glass restoration and conservation problems as well as tackling unique glasswork commissions for individual clients.
Further information at: Rob MacInnes – Original Stained Glass
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Linda Cannon