The Chapel stained Glass - Mercy International Centre

The Chapel Stained Glass Mercy International centre

A Presentation by Michael Earley On the work of his Great Grand-uncle William Earley

Bartolome Esteban Murillo 1600-1680

Alphonse Muncha

1860-1939

St Mary’s Church Haddington Road

Painted Glass vs Stained Glass • Glass is made by melting Silica Sand at 1700C. The addition of Soda or Potash lowers this to 900C. • This was not reliably achieved until the 1600’s. It was melted in small pots set into a large furnace.

• Addition of Metallic Oxides impart different colours e.g.Gold Chloride for ruby red or Cobalt Oxide for deep blue. The glass is now true Stained Glass and called “Pot Metal” or “Antique” Glass.

• Shading and detail can be added to stained glass by the application of glass paint and colours can be altered by the use of Acid or by the use of “Flashed”glass.

• Enamel paints can be painted onto glass that is usually clear or light yellow or amber in colour and the result is Painted Glass.

Grace Cathedral in San Francisco

• The Old Testament Rose Window in the South Transept

• Made in Connick’s Studios (Boston) 1932

Making a window

Design & Cartoon

Teamwork & Setting out

Glass ‘painting’

Glass Painting

• Detail is added to the Stained Glass by the application of a monochrome glass paint which when baked or “Fired” on to the stained glass appears black when light shines through the window.

• Glass Paint consists of Ground Glass and Iron or Copper Oxide with the addition of Flux to lower its melting point.

• To aid its application Gum Arabic is added. This allows smooth brushwork and stippling etc..

• When fired in a kiln the glass paint fuses to the stained glass

Glazing & Leading

Assembly

The Process

History of Earley Studios (1) • A.W.Pugin was the architect of “Gothic Revivalism”in England &Ireland in the mid 1800’s

• For stained glass he partnered with Hardman’s of Birmingham,England. The Earley family (Irish origins) worked for Hardman’s.

• In 1850’s Thomas Earley opened Hardman’s Ecclesiastical Supplies in Grafton St.Dublin

• In 1860 Earley & Powell was established in No.1 Upper Camden St. Dublin

Grafton Street 1900

History of Earley studios (2) • 1893 Thomas Earley died and his nephew John Bishop Earley became manager of the studios • 1903 William Earley joined his elder brother to form Earley & Co. studios in No.1 Upper Camden St. • 1914 Earley & Co. moved to No. 4 Upper Camden St. • 1931 The studios expanded into refurbished 4 & 5 and the circular window was installed in William Earley’s office • 1930’s to 1950’s are the most productive years in the Studio’s history • 1975 The studios close

The Pugin Influence Windows in St Kevins Harrington Street Produced by Earley & Powell in the late 1800’s

1932 1990 2010

2020

William Earley B.1872-D.1956

St Stephen’s Green 1900

Earley Studios 1905

The Earley Brothers John Bishop on the R. William on the L. (with A glazier between them)

An Address to “The Reverend Clergy” (1932) – William Earley • We try to interpret the Spirit of the Church when She calls on Her Artists to illustrate the Written Word.

• Catholic work must first be devotional.

• “Can I recognize the Spoken Word of the Gospels?”

• “Is it a second sermon,this time in Glass?”

• The keynote is small pieces of Glass to secure brilliancy and variety.

• Stained Glass is a window decoration, and the sole function of a window is to admit light.

History of Stained Glass (1) (from Stained Glass by Steve Clare)

• Primarily a European Art form originating in Germany, refined in Paris and exported to England.

• c1100 Early examples in Augsberg Cathedral.

• c1200 Chartres Cathedral figurative glass surrounded by decoration-small pieces of glass-lots of fine leading-vivid cobalt blues and ruby glass.

• 1300 and 1400’s Cistercian influence being by nature contemplative and Benedictine rule shunning ostentation led to English geometric designs inspired by floral and plant life and led to “grisaille” work.This can be defined as an ornamental non-figurative design painted in black line on colourless glass.

History of stained glass (2) • Late 1300’s : With the rapid spread of the use of silver stain which allowed different colours to be painted on to single pieces of glass there was a blossoming of draughtsmanship and glass painting skills.

• 1400’s : Increased use of glass painting on white glass with silver stain. John Thornton of Coventry and John Pruddle the King’s Glazier were famous exponents. As painted glass flourished stained glass declined.

• 1500’s : An influx of European glaziers changed the style of English painted glass. But when Henry VIII broke with Rome in 1533 the Northern Renaissance influence was halted and much glass was destroyed. Only Heraldic Glass survived and the use of enamelled glass increased.

History of stained glass (3) • 1700’s : The trend of painting in glass paint and enamels on white glass continued. Terms such as “oil paintings on glass” and “transparencies” were used when describing this glass. Little of it has survived.

• Early 1800’s : It was realised that the great tradition of medieval stained glass and the materials and skills involved were lost. The renewed interest in antiquarian crafts and the need to restore medieval windows combined with the Gothic Revival movement led to a resurgence of interest in using older methods of stained glass production.

History of stained glass (4)