Panel thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sacred Silver & Stained Glass, Room 83, The Whiteley Galleries

Panel

1889 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Charles Eamer Kempe came from the same artistic circle as William Morris and the stained glass designers Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Like them, he was inspired by the art and skills of the medieval stained-glass makers but did not believe in slavishly copying their designs.

This small panel owes an obvious debt to the art of the Middle Ages because of its subject matter. The elaborate arcading and columns surrounding the figure recall the art of the Renaissance, while the style of the drawing is typical of the late Victorian period.

Kempe had hoped for a career in the church but instead he turned to designing church furnishings. He began making designs for stained glass in the 1860s.

St Lawrence was a deacon in the early church at a time when it was illegal to profess the Christian faith. In 258 the Roman emperor Valerian issued a decree calling for the execution of all Christian church leaders. Contemporary documents record that Lawrence died in prison on 10 August of that year. He is said to have been roasted on a gridiron.

This panel shows St Lawrence in the robes of a deacon and holding a gridiron (his traditional symbol) and a palm (the sign of a martyr).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Clear and coloured glass with painted details and yellow (silver) stain
Brief description
Clear and coloured glass with painted details and silver stain. Depicting St Lawrence. Made by CE Kempe in England in 1889.
Physical description
Panel. St. Lawrence carrying a book, quill and a grid-iron. Inscription below: "SANCTUS LAURENTIUS".
Dimensions
  • Height: 24in
  • Width: 13.5in
Gallery label
Stained Glass Panel of St Lawrence The revival of Gothic architecture led to a new demand for stained glass. One of the leading producers was C.E. Kempe, who founded a studio in London in 1869. His use of silver stain, bright colours and intricate detail derived from a close study of medieval glass. London, England, 1889; by Charles Eamer Kempe (1837-1907) Clear and coloured glass,with paint and silver stain Museum no. C.195-1933. Given by Mr Walter E. Tower((AE) 2004)
Credit line
Given by Mr Walter E. Tower
Historical context
Charles Eamer Kempe (1837-1907) emerged out the same artistic world as William Morris and the stained glass designers Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Like them, he was inspired by the art and skills of the medieval stained glass maker but did not believe in slavishly copying their designs.

This small panel owes an obvious debt to the art of the middle Ages because of its subject matter and the elaborate arcading and columns surrounding the figure are very much of the Renaissance period. However, the style of the drawing is firmly in the late Victorian period.

Kempe had hoped for a career in the Church but instead he turned to designing church furnishings. He began making stained glass designs in the 1860s.

St Lawrence was a deacon in the early church at a time when it was illegal to profess in the Christian faith. In 258 the Roman Emperor Valerian issued a decree calling for the execution of all Christian church leaders. Contemporary documents record that Lawrence died in prison on 10 August of that year. His steadfast belief and refusal to sacrifice to the Roman gods was an inspiration to early Christisans living through these periods of persecution. His cult developed very quickly and he is still a greatly honoured saint in the Catholic church.
Subject depicted
Summary
Charles Eamer Kempe came from the same artistic circle as William Morris and the stained glass designers Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Like them, he was inspired by the art and skills of the medieval stained-glass makers but did not believe in slavishly copying their designs.

This small panel owes an obvious debt to the art of the Middle Ages because of its subject matter. The elaborate arcading and columns surrounding the figure recall the art of the Renaissance, while the style of the drawing is typical of the late Victorian period.

Kempe had hoped for a career in the church but instead he turned to designing church furnishings. He began making designs for stained glass in the 1860s.

St Lawrence was a deacon in the early church at a time when it was illegal to profess the Christian faith. In 258 the Roman emperor Valerian issued a decree calling for the execution of all Christian church leaders. Contemporary documents record that Lawrence died in prison on 10 August of that year. He is said to have been roasted on a gridiron.

This panel shows St Lawrence in the robes of a deacon and holding a gridiron (his traditional symbol) and a palm (the sign of a martyr).
Collection
Accession number
C.195-1933

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Record createdJuly 27, 1998
Record URL
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