Characters from the Old Testament
detail from Tree of Jesse and Twelve Apostles

Photo © Martin Crampin

Upper part of the second light from the left.

larger image

about 1500 and 1533

Five-light window depicting tree of Jesse (although the figure of Jesse himself has been lost) with the Virgin and Child at the top of the central light. Most of the figures in the main lights are grouped in threes.

Above in the tracery lights are a set of twelve apostles (including Matthias). Most of the figures hold attributes. The lower sections are filled with fragments.



Church of St Bridget, Dyserth, Denbighshire
east wall of the chancel (window number: I)

The money for the Tree of Jesse window was left by Archdeacon Peter Conwey, who died in 1532, and his arms appear in the window. The Apostles are dated earlier at about 1500 by Mostyn Lewis.

Some of the Old Testament characters are identifiable by (sometimes incomplete) inscriptions, which also seem to suggest that some characters were depicted twice, such as Asa and Jehosaphat. Unusually for a Jesse tree, there do not seem to be any prophets.

Restorations of the window were carried out in 1736 and 1743.


 (ObjectID=2212 ImageID=6269) Original File Name=Diserth_DSC1854.jpg

Record added by Martin Crampin. Last updated on 12-10-2020

 

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This work is indexed under the following main subject(s):
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• the twelve apostles (as a group), usually with books or scrolls (not in biblical context) 
• tree of Jesse: genealogical tree showing Christ's ancestors, sprouting from Jesse's loins  [Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38]

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• David as musician, usually playing the harp 
• Madonna: Mary sitting or enthroned, the Christ-child in her lap 
• Rehoboam, king of Judah 
• Solomon (not in biblical context) 

Martin Crampin, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014), pp. 44-5.

Edward Hubbard, The Buildings of Wales: Clwyd (Harmondsworth/Cardiff: Penguin/University of Wales Press, 1986), p. 343.

Peter Lord, The Visual Culture of Wales: Medieval Vision (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2003), pp. 204-5.

Mostyn Lewis, Stained Glass in North Wales up to 1850 (Altrincham: John Sherratt and Son Ltd, 1970), pp. 13, 34-6.

Painton Cowen, A Guide to Stained Glass in Britain (London: Michael Joseph, 1985), p. 220.

H. T. Kirby, 'The 'Jesse' Tree Motif in Stained Glass, A Comparative Study of English Examples, concluded' Journal of the British Society of Master Glass-Painters, vol. xiii, no. 2 (1960–1), 437–8.

Photo © Martin Crampin

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