Wadham College Chapel, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Address
Wadham College, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PNRecommended by
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East windowArtist, maker and date
Bernard van Linge, 1622Reason for highlighting
The east window is a historically significant and visual magnificent example of the brief revival in stained glass before the Civil War. It was painted with translucent vitreous enamels by the Flemish master, Bernard van Linge.
The Flemish connection is continued in the source of the iconography, which is based on engravings from a book in the college library, Evangelicae Historiae Imagines, by Hieronymus Natalis, printed in Antwerp in 1596. The main lights show scenes from the passion, while the tracery lights have Old Testament subjects.
Artist/maker notes
Bernard van Linge (1598-c.1644) was born in Emden and learned his trade from his father and possibly grandfather, both of whom were masters of the Emden glaziers’ guild. After four years working in Paris Barnard came to England in 1621. Family connections allowed him to gain employment in the studio of the glazier, Thomas Langton. However, rivalry between English and Dutch glaziers made it difficult to obtain work in London, which led Langton to introduce him to the warden of Wadham College, Oxford and ultimately to the creation of the great east window in the Chapel. Bernard spent his later years in Emden, leaving England in 1623, which is probably when his brother Abraham arrived.
Source: Bernard van Linge by Alexander Faludy – Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Other comments
The windows immediately to the north and south of the east window contain 16th century Netherlandish glass given to the College in 1836 in their upper sections.
After the consecration of the Chapel in 1613 the north side was glazed with depictions of prophets. The work has been partially attributed to Robert Rudland of Oxford. The south side has depictions of Christ and a number of Apostles. The later work was completed by 1616 and has been attributed to Lewis Dolphin / Louis Dauphin.
All the Chapel windows have recently undergone conservation and restoration, the east window by The York Glaziers Trust and the nave windows by Chapel Studio.