Left: Whole window. Right: Closer view of central figures, with the inscription below.
Window by Stephen Adam (1848-1910) bearing the text from Genesis, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (viii, 22). The window is part-way up the main stairwell in Escuela Técnica N° 06 - Fernando Fader, Buenos Aires, which operates in Las Lilas Palace, a grand old mansion built by Robert Agar, "a wealthy English trader and official of the Western Railway, ... around 1880" ("La Lilas Palace"). [Click on these images, and the ones below, to enlarge them.]
The row of figures, with the riches of various kinds of harvest.
In the background of the harvesters is a blue sky and a great spreading fruit tree laden with fruit, with one woman still plucking fruit from it. A child too stretches out a hand, making a small contribution to their efforts. On either side are columns with carved capitals, supporting an arch. At each corner, angels lean on the arch and look down at the harvesters, their wings spread. In the small lights above can be sene various motifs: on the left, for instance, symbols of spring: daffodils and chicks; in the next one is a heraldic lion above the Latin proverb, "Via Trita, Via Tuta" (the well-used path is the best path); then, "Blow Hunter Blow the Horn" from an old song; and so on. Probably every design had meaning for the family, but above all the designs are intricate and lively.
Left: The child on the far right, stretching out a hand for a share of the harvest. Right: Adam's signature, and the place of production: Glasgow.
Typically for Adam, and the Victorians generally, the window celebrates not only the bounty of nature but the rewards of endeavour as well. No doubt this chimed well with Rober Agar's own philosophy. Alejandro Vetere writes: "It is a beautiful stained glass window, I have been looking at it for years. In October/November, around 5 p.m., it is truly a beauty." If only Stephen Adam could know that his work is still so much appreciated!
Text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee (with the help of Google Translate). 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 the Victorian Web in a print one.
Bibliography
Tatasciore, Nicolas. "Las Lilas Palace: the history of the building that today houses the Fernando Fader school." Museo Barrio de Flores (Buenos Aires, English translation). Web. 2 March 2025. https://museobarriodeflores.com.ar/palacio-las-lilas-la-historia-del-edificio-que-hoy-alberga-al-colegio-fernando-fader/
Created 2 March 2025