Virgin Mary
detail from Te Deum and Tree of Jesse

Photo © Martin Crampin

From the row of figures over the Te Deum.

larger image

1500, restored in 1867

Seven-light window. Numerous figures arranged as figures representing the Te Deum (main lights) and the Tree of Jesse (tracery lights).

The figures below are mostly arranged in threes or fours, with Latin texts from the Te Deum below each group. The seven large figures above (mostly a combination of old and new glass) are standing figures of Mary, John, Mary on the knee of the seated Christ, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit seated holding a dove, Gabriel, and female figure that is perhaps another figure of Mary. Except for Gabriel, all figures are set in a mandorla, and all have angels about their heads.

The figure of Jesse, at the base of the central tracery lights, is probably modern, but some of the unnamed kings are late medieval. A tiny Virgin and Child is included in the uppermost light.

size: 50 cm (width of each light) [approx]
restorer: Clayton & Bell

Church of All Saints, Gresford, Wrexham
east wall of the chancel (window number: I)

Given by Thomas Lord Stanley in 1500. Much restored using surviving fragments (of various dates) in 1867, and incorporating new glass made by Clayton and Bell.

Whether or not these were the original subjects of the window is not certain.


 (ObjectID=984 ImageID=6323) Original File Name=Gresford_MG_5746.jpg

Record added by Martin Crampin. Last updated on 28-12-2020

 

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This work is indexed under the following main subject(s):
for other works containing these subjects please click on the links.

• angels 
• God the Father as bearded old man, usually with crown or tiara or sceptre and/or globe 
• Holy Ghost represented in human shape 
• Holy Trinity in which one, two or all figures are represented in human shape 
• St John the Evangelist, apostle 
• Te Deum Laudamus (Ambrosian Hymn) 
• the Archangel Gabriel 
• tree of Jesse: genealogical tree showing Christ's ancestors, sprouting from Jesse's loins  [Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38]
• upright figures of Mary without the Christ-child 

Show more subjects

• crown (symbol of sovereignty) 
• Holy Ghost represented as a dove 
• Madonna: Mary sitting or enthroned, the Christ-child in her lap 
• St Barbara, virgin martyr 
• St Catherine of Alexandria, virgin martyr 
• St Dorothea of Caesarea, virgin martyr 
• the Annunciation: Mary, usually reading, is visited by the angel  [Luke 1:26-38]

Martin Crampin, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014), pp. 36-7, 42, 48.

Edward Hubbard, The Buildings of Wales: Clwyd (Harmondsworth/Cardiff: Penguin/University of Wales Press, 1986), p. 171.

Mostyn Lewis, Stained Glass in North Wales up to 1850 (Altrincham: John Sherratt and Son Ltd, 1970), pp. 7-8, 38-9.

Martin Crampin, 'Biblical Art from Wales: The Mediaeval Influence' (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2010), pp. 126-7.

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

Jane Cartwright, Feminine Sanctity and Spirituality in Medieval Wales (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2008), pp. 154–5.

Photo © Martin Crampin

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