Tracery Light
1400-1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
These 15th-century fragments, though of obscure provenance, were all used to decorate church windows. In the top centre is a partly obliterated angel. To the left is a flag which might have been part of an 'Agnus Dei' (a depiction of Christ as the 'Lamb of God' with a banner). To the right one can make out the rays of a halo, and below is a scroll bearing a text, now effaced.
Materials & Making
In contrast to traditional 'stained glass' which was coloured, when molten, with metallic oxides, these fragments were made using a method introduced to England only in the 14th century. The design was painted onto white glass in dark-brown iron oxide. The coloured areas were filled in with a silver-based stain which, on firing, turned yellow. This technique permitted greater freedom in composition. Details such as the angel's yellow hair and white face, instead of being made up from separate pieces of glass, could now be painted onto just one piece.
Historical Associations
The damage to the angel's face is probably the result of deliberate vandalism in the 16th century. When Edward VI (ruled 1547-1553) succeeded to the English throne in 1547, his government adopted more Protestant views. There was a radical change in their attitude towards traditional ecclesiastical imagery. Protestant iconoclasts sought to remove 'distracting' images from all places of worship. Because the medium of stained glass was not in itself offensive, however, windows were not usually destroyed, but religious figures often had their faces scrubbed out.
These 15th-century fragments, though of obscure provenance, were all used to decorate church windows. In the top centre is a partly obliterated angel. To the left is a flag which might have been part of an 'Agnus Dei' (a depiction of Christ as the 'Lamb of God' with a banner). To the right one can make out the rays of a halo, and below is a scroll bearing a text, now effaced.
Materials & Making
In contrast to traditional 'stained glass' which was coloured, when molten, with metallic oxides, these fragments were made using a method introduced to England only in the 14th century. The design was painted onto white glass in dark-brown iron oxide. The coloured areas were filled in with a silver-based stain which, on firing, turned yellow. This technique permitted greater freedom in composition. Details such as the angel's yellow hair and white face, instead of being made up from separate pieces of glass, could now be painted onto just one piece.
Historical Associations
The damage to the angel's face is probably the result of deliberate vandalism in the 16th century. When Edward VI (ruled 1547-1553) succeeded to the English throne in 1547, his government adopted more Protestant views. There was a radical change in their attitude towards traditional ecclesiastical imagery. Protestant iconoclasts sought to remove 'distracting' images from all places of worship. Because the medium of stained glass was not in itself offensive, however, windows were not usually destroyed, but religious figures often had their faces scrubbed out.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Clear glass, painted with enamel and yellow stain |
| Brief description | Tracery light painted in dark brown pigment and silver stain with an image of an angel holding part of an inscription. English, 15th century |
| Physical description | Tracery light, round-topped. An angel and part of an inscription. The angel's face destroyed by iconoclasts. Yellow. Brown. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
This glass came from the window of a 15th-century church. The erasing of the face and inscription may have been done to comply with laws passed during the reigns of Edward VI (1547-1553) or Elizabeth I (1558-1603) that required the defacing of religious images.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Lady Legge, in accordance with the wishes of Sir Thomas Legge, as examples of iconoclastic defacement |
| Summary | Object Type These 15th-century fragments, though of obscure provenance, were all used to decorate church windows. In the top centre is a partly obliterated angel. To the left is a flag which might have been part of an 'Agnus Dei' (a depiction of Christ as the 'Lamb of God' with a banner). To the right one can make out the rays of a halo, and below is a scroll bearing a text, now effaced. Materials & Making In contrast to traditional 'stained glass' which was coloured, when molten, with metallic oxides, these fragments were made using a method introduced to England only in the 14th century. The design was painted onto white glass in dark-brown iron oxide. The coloured areas were filled in with a silver-based stain which, on firing, turned yellow. This technique permitted greater freedom in composition. Details such as the angel's yellow hair and white face, instead of being made up from separate pieces of glass, could now be painted onto just one piece. Historical Associations The damage to the angel's face is probably the result of deliberate vandalism in the 16th century. When Edward VI (ruled 1547-1553) succeeded to the English throne in 1547, his government adopted more Protestant views. There was a radical change in their attitude towards traditional ecclesiastical imagery. Protestant iconoclasts sought to remove 'distracting' images from all places of worship. Because the medium of stained glass was not in itself offensive, however, windows were not usually destroyed, but religious figures often had their faces scrubbed out. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.119-1932 |
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| Record created | June 2, 1998 |
| Record URL |
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