Main figures in William Blake Richmond's stained glass window (North Aisle 2). 1910 (see Eberhard). Like the neighbouring North Aisle 1 window, this one was installed in memory of Viscount Chelsea, and funded by 5th Earl Cadogan; and is recorded in the Order Book of James Powell and Sons (see bibliography). Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London SW1. [Click here for an idea of the whole window. Click on all the images to enlarge them.]
The episodes depicting by the main figures show: David playing the harp for Saul; Samuel in the Temple; Jesus; Joseph with his mother; and St Ann teaching the young. Jesus, in the center, is shown more closely on the right below. As the background to Jesus, the stem of Jesse prefigures the cross, while the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene kneel on either side.
Left: Uppermost part of window, with musician angels and foliage in the tracery. Right: The central figure of a youthful-looking Jesus.
Lower panels (left). First two: Left: Below the scene of David as harpist, the young David presents Goliath's head to the wondering Saul, who has been fighting the Philistines; In Thee oh God do I put My Trust. Right: Below the scene of Samuel in the Temple, is that of the Holy Family in the carpenter's shop, with Mary at its heart, watching Jesus sawing a plank on one side of the shop while a cross is being assembled on the other — a scene that works typologically much like W. Holman Hunt's The Shadow of Death; Speak for thy servant heareth.
Lower panel (central). Below the central figure of Christ, the Nativity, with Joseph and the shepherds, one holding a lamb, and lilies at Mary's feet. A ram can be seen in the left-hand corner, perhaps reminding us of the story of Abraham and Isaac and the possibility of sacrifice, and cattle are seen on the other side, while Mary cradles her infant protectively, as if aware of the all-too-dangerous future; I am the Light of the World (a biblical phrase that is also the title of Hunt's famous painting).
Lower panels (right). Left: Below the scene of Joseph as a boy, Jesus teaching the elders in the Temple; Before Abraham was I am. Right: Below St Anne, teaching the young (probably her daughter Mary, in blue), is a scene of healthy, productive and innocent labour: a man is seen digging, while a younger one is picking fruit from a tree, and another, steadied by his mother, is helping; Children in whom there was no blemish. This is the kind of scene of which William Morris, Richmond's good friend, would surely have approved.
Link to Related Material
Photographs 2013 by George P. Landow and text by Landow and Jacqueline Banerjee. [You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]
Bibliography
Eberhard, Robert. "Holy Trinity Church...." Church Stained Glass Records. Web. 12 September 2024.
Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London SW1: A Brief Guide. London: Holy Trinity Church, n.d.
James Powell Order Book. Interesting to see the print-out of the actual entry for Richmond's three widows:
Last modified 27 September 2024