This panel probably represents the Apostle St Peter. In the Middle Ages, images of saints depicted in glass, stone or wood, or painted on walls, could be identified by the attributes they carry. Jesus Christ gave St Peter the keys of heaven, so he is traditionally depicted holding keys. However, the clear, or white, glass used to make up the key in this panel is later in date, so we cannot be sure if the original glass depicted a key.
We can be sure that this figure was one of the Apostles because we know that it came from a band window in the clerestory (upper part of the main walls) of the north transept of Sées Cathedral in Normandy. There are still some stained-glass panels depicting Apostles there, and they are very similar in style to this one. Band windows are composed of panels of single figures sandwiched between areas of clear glass with painted details (grisaille glass).
Jean de Bernières, Bishop of Sées 1278–96, probably commissioned the windows. His image appears in a window lower down, in the north transept chapel.
Physical description
Panel composed of clear, flashed and coloured glass with painted details, in two sections. Central image of an elongated, s-curved, figure of a tonsured and barefooted man representing St. Peter. He wears a long gown composed of yellow and red glass, over which is a long green cloak fixed centrally at the neck. He holds in his right hand a long key of clear glass (not original glass) and his left hand is raised in blessing. The background is composed of red flashed glass. The whole encased in a border of alternating green and yellow pot metal glass; the yellow painted with brown/black pigment depicting four-leaved stylised flowers and towered edifices - perhaps representing the cathedral. Outside this border is another border, modern, composed of clear glass.
Place of Origin
Normandy, France (made)
Date
ca. 1280 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Clear, flashed and coloured glass with painted details
Dimensions
Height: 120.7 cm framed, Width: 53.8 cm framed, Depth: 3.2 cm framed, Weight: 13.68 kg framed, Height: 119.6 cm sight, Width: 52.5 cm sight
Object history note
Bishop Jean de Bernieres (1278-1296) commissioned stained glass for the north transept. An image of the bishop still exists in glass in the north transept chapel. The style of painting and the construction method of these panels, including the V&A St Peter, indicate they were made in the same workshop.
The panel was originally located in the 2nd bay clerestory window of the north transept.
Glass repairs were made at Seés in 1817-18, 1827 and 1837.
There are records describing the medieval glass in the cathedral in 1860 and the St Peter panel is not mentioned. There are less complete reports from 1837 and the panel was not mentioned then. It is assumed that the panel was removed before 1837.
Historical context note
This panel was made from a workshop cartoon. Several versions of the figure still survive in the cathedral.
Descriptive line
Clear, flashed and coloured glass with painted details depicting St. Peter. Originally from Seés Cathedral. French, c.1280.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Williamson, Paul. Medieval and Renaissance Stained Glass in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2003. ISBN 1851774041
Lillich. M.P., 'A Stained Glass Apostle from Sees Cathedral.' Burlington Magazine, July 1977, pp.497-500.
Rackham, Bernard, A Guide to the Collections of Stained Glass, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1936, p.26
Lafond, Jean 'Les vitraux de la cathédrale de Seés', Congres archéologique, CXIe session (1953)
Lafond, Jean, 'Le vitrail en Normandie', Bulletin monumental, CXI (1953)
Lafond thought that the V&A St Peter originally came from the choir clerestory (north side, nearest crossing).
De Gaumont in Bulletin monumental, III (1837), p.337
Mentions earlier glass repairs at the cathedral.
Labels and date
St. Peter
This figure panel originally comes from a band window in the north transept clerestory of Sées Cathedral in Normandy. Band windows consist of strips or bands of figures interspersed with plainer grisaille glass. This simple arrangement is a stylistic innovation on earlier, denser, window schemes in which both whole scenes and single figures formed the theme.
French (Normandy), c.1280
From Sées Cathedral
Museum no. C.727-1909; purchased from Grosvenor Thomas [(2004) TB]
St Peter
The imagery of medieval stained glass was
Not purely decorative. It was intended to
convey a message. This panel depicts St Peter
holding his special symbol, the keys to the
kingdom of heaven. Jesus granted Peter these
keys when he named him as the foundation
stone (Latin 'petra') of the Christian Church.
Later, Peter became the first pope.
France (Normandy), about 1280
Clear, coloured and flashed glass, with paint
From Sèes Cathedral
Museum no. C.727-1909 [2004 (PW)]
Production Note
Originally from the east side of the north transept of Seés Cathedral.
Materials
Glass
Techniques
Painting; Pot metal; Flashing
Subjects depicted
Saint; Peter (Saint); Cathedral; Key
Categories
Religion; Christianity; Stained Glass
Collection code
CER
