West Window, St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata, India, by Edward Burne-Jones

West Window

Designer: Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898)

Firm: Morris & Co.

Stained glass

1873-75

St. Paul's Cathedral

Kolkata, India

Sewter identifies the figures in the upper tier as Enoch, King David, Salvator Mundi, Solomon, and Elijah and those in the lower tier as St. Thomas, Charity, St. Michael weighing souls, Justice, and St. Paul. He cites B. F. L. Clarke to the effect that the window was a memorial to the 6th Earl of Mayo, Viceroy of India (II, 219). [See below for additional information.]

Photograph and text by Jacqueline Banerjee.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this UR or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. Click on the image to enlarge it.]

From the October 1926 Parish Paper (provided by Maryann Dasgupta of Kolkata)

Probably there are members of the Congregation who do not know what a priceless possession the Cathedral has in the Great West Window. . . .

“Storied window richly dight,
Casting a dim, religious light.”

This is a Burne-Jones window erected by the order of the Government of India as recorded by the brass tablet at the foot:

“This window was erected by the order of the Government of India to the glory of God and in memory of Richard Southwell Bourke, Sixth Earl of Mayo and Fourth Governor-General of India who was assassinated at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands on the 8th Day of February MDCCCLXXII”

The design of the window was chosen by Lady Mayo and submitted to Bishop Milman for approval, and was executed by Messrs. Morris & Co., 26 Queen’s Square, Bloomsbury who employed Burne-Jones as their principal artist.

The central figure, a figure of Justice, bears the following inscription:

“Omnia nuda et aperta suni oculis Ejus ad quem sermo,” which is the Latin form of Hebrews 4:13.

[Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.]

The colouring of the window is one of the best specimens of Messrs. Morriss’ work.

Note by M. Dasgupta: The rest of the verse is "Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Bibliography

Sewter, A. Charles. The Stained Glass of William Morris and His Circle. 2 vols. New Haven and London: Yale UP, 1975.

Last modified 5 June 2020