March
7th update
Today's
news is the addition of a new folder of work which features the windows of Calvary
Episcopal Church in Summit, New Jersey. This church has some fine windows by
the London firm, Powell, whose mark is a cloaked monk. There is a very colourful
and particularly fine set of windows to the left and right and above the altar
by an as-yet-unknown maker, possibly also Powell. For Tiffany-lovers the crowning
glory is undoubtedly the rose window which is above the west wall. It is a beautiful
work featuring 8 angels radiating from a centre-piece containing a dove and
each angel is carrying a scroll bearing one of the Beatitudes. This is an excellent
window for demonstrating what a camera and good film can see which the naked
eye can not. The window is fairly high up and even in the afternoon sun is still
somewhat dark. Though it is certainly possible to appreciate the overall beauty
of the window there is much fine detail which is lost to the average human eye
but which the camera can capture. There are 84 images of the windows in Calvary
Episcopal Church.
March
8th addendum: This morning I received notification that the east window set
and one of the windows in the baptistry in Calvary Episcopal Church are the
work of Henry Holiday, one of the most accomplished stained glass artists of
the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The window in the baptistry dates from
around 1902 and the east window set is said to date from 1919-20. I received
this confirmation from Peter Cormack of the William Morris museum in London,
who is a leading expert in stained glass of that period and who immediately
recognised these windows as the work of Holiday and was able to find references
to them in published works. For my part I knew that they were exceptional works
but I did not connect them with Holiday and could see no markings on them. Also,
because they are so colourful and in such excellent condition I found it difficult
to judge their age.
Henry Holiday undertook many commissions for clients in the US. Noteworthy examples
include the memorial window for Robert E. Lee in St Paul's Episcopal Church
in Richmond, windows in Harvard and Drew Universities and windows in The Church
of the Incarnation in New York City. The largest body of his work which I have
personally seen in one place is the set of windows in Trinity College Cambridge
which includes over 120 full length figure studies featuring prominent religious
and historic figures through the ages. A brief biography
will provide a little more information about him, including
his connections with Morris, Burne-Jones and ties to the English Lake District.
February
23rd update
This
week has been overshadowed by the sudden and unexpected passing of Eric's father,
Bernard Falk. In case you are unaware Eric is our webmaster without whose painstaking
efforts this website would still be a pipedream instead of the reality which
it has become.
Bernard
Falk was only 71 and his death came as a great shock to Eric, his brother and
to other close family and friends. I did not know him personally but, based
on the attendance at his funeral and the many great things which were said about
him there, he is someone who will be greatly missed by many and for a very long
time.
The
eulogy which was delivered by Rabbi Herman at the funeral was especially memorable
for it's sincerity and it was truly moving. It included a very poignant poem
which I think that it would be appropriate to share and it may be found via
this link
March
21st update
I
have just added a folder of pictures of the windows in Central Presbyterian
Church, Summit and to make these new folders easier to access I will leave links
to them at the top of this page. Eventually there will be links to these from
the home page but that is delayed pending other changes which are planned. These
four folders now add just under 200 new images to the site which include some
fine and hitherto unpublished works by Tiffany Studios, Henry Holiday and Connick
studios as well as many other works both old and modern.
