Women bringing children by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA 1933-1898

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Women bringing children

Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA (1833-1898)

circa 1885. Related to the tapestry of the same name designed in 1884.

Black chalk heightened with white on brown paper

64 x 24 inches, 214 x 117 cm

Provenance: The Parochial Council of St. Mary's Church, Selly Park, to 1977.

Design for a stained glass window in Hillhead church, Glasgow. Inscribed 'HILLHEAD/ Christ Blessing Children/Picture in upper portion of Lights/Margin marked A represents Mullion 1/2 Full Size'

Compare Christ blessing the little children.

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Commentary by Hilary Morgan

This is a cartoon for the stained glass in the right tall light in the chancel apse of Hillhead Church, Glasgow. According to the artist's account books he charged &100 for the design of the left and right lights, which were carried out in 1892-3, the glass painters being Bowman and Walters. Other versions of these designs are at Sparsholt, Wadhurst and St. Cyprian's Chapel, Eastbourne.(Sewter, 1974 & 5) The relationship between this cartoon and the completed stained glass is discussed in the introductory essay on Burne-Jones's drawings.

The subject derives from the Gospel narratives of Matthew, Mark and Luke, who recount that Jesus welcomed children to him. '13. Then were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto Me: for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.(Matthew: XIX, 13-5)

References

Morgan, Hilary and Nahum, Peter. Burne-Jones, The Pre-Raphaelites and Their Century. London: Peter Nahum, 1989. Catalogue number 68.

Sewter, A. C. The Stained Glass of William Morris and his Circle.. 2 Vols. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1974 & 1975.

Last modified 5 June 2020