Henry Holiday

The stained glass windows I have most closely studied lie within the Chapel of St. Nicholas, which houses a magnificent series by pre-Raphaelite Henry Holiday.  At first, only the Chancel (the part of the Chapel where the Choir resides) had coloured windows, the rest of the Chapel simply having clear glass, but through time all thirteen windows were filled with his work.

Henry Holiday (1839-1927) was an artist of great skill and many talents.  He was trained by William Cave Thomas in 1852, and two years later he entered the Royal Academy School.  He made progress with his drawing and painting and was greatly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites.  Millais and Ruiskin both encouraged him, praising his painting, and he was on friendly terms with Rossetti, Burne-Jones and Holman Hunt.

Following commissioning, Henry Holiday produced a vidimus (below, left) for approval.  Once the design was approved, a full-sized cartoon was drawn for every ‘light’ or opening of the window.

This vidimus and window shows the story of the three holy children, from the Book of Daniel: Shadrak, Meshak & Abednego, who had be flung into a burning fiery furnace because they would not worship Nebuchadnezzar.

Text:
O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
Praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Benedicite