Churches often ordered stained-glass windows painted with scenes from the lives of their patron saints. As the name suggests, the church of Saint-Pierre-du-Chatel was dedicated to St Peter. This panel is one of three that depict important episodes relating to Peter and the early years of the Christian church.
Before Christ ascended to heaven, he instructed his disciples to spread his teachings around the world. Peter is shown here in the second panel preaching about the life, death and Resurrection of Christ.
Physical description
Stained glass panel. St Peter, wearing a red gown and a blue cloak, preaches to a crowd from a pulpit. One of the crowd, an elderly man, holds his hands in a praying position. This indicates that he has been converted to the teachings of Christ.
Place of Origin
Normandy, France (made)
Date
ca. 1525-1530 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
de Nimegue, Arnoult (workshop of, painted by)
Materials and Techniques
Clear and coloured glass with painted details and silver stain
Dimensions
Height: 156.1 cm framed, Width: 67.1 cm framed, Depth: 3.2 cm framed, Weight: 12.0 kg framed, Height: 150.5 cm sight, Width: 61.4 cm sight
Object history note
From Saint-Pieree-du-Châtel in Rouen, Normandy.
Acquired from the Bernal Collection.
Historical context note
The same scenes are depicted in glass from Saint-Vincent in Rouen (now in Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc, Rouen) and in Notre-Dame du Grand-Andely, Les Andelys. They may have all derived from the same cartoon.
Descriptive line
Stained glass window depicting three scenes from the life of St Peter. From the church of Saint-Pierre-du-Chatel in Rouen, France, c.1525-30.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Williamson, Paul. Medieval and Renaissance Stained Glass in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2003. ISBN 1851774041
Bernard Rackham, A Guide to the Collecitons of Stained Glass, V&A Museum, 1936
(p.70) The introduction into French art about 1520 of the early Renaissance style from Italy had at first little effect on glass-painting. Its influence is seen in the adoption of classical instead of Gothic motives in ornamental accessories of costume, architectural canopies, or borders, but the technique and the general colour values of stained glass continued for some time on purely medieval lines. This is well seen in a series of three lights, of about 1525, from a church in Normandy, with scenes from the life and martyrdom of St Peter. In their rich colouring they approximate to many windows of the period to be seen in the parish churches of Rouen; only in the small classical details of architectural accessories and ornamental borders do they show the change to the fashions of the Renaissance.
Production Note
The style of this window has been associated with the workshops run by the followers of Arnoult de Nimègue
Materials
Glass
Techniques
Painting; Silver staining
Subjects depicted
Saint; Peter (Saint); Pulpit
Categories
Religion; Christianity; Stained Glass
Collection code
CER
