Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of York: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Archi-Episcopal SeeClutton-Brock, A. (Arthur)
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of York: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Archi-Episcopal See
Clutton-Brock, A. (Arthur)
York Minster
Mr Winton, to whom throughout in this short notice of the windows we are
much indebted, has pointed out that the earliest Perpendicular glass in
the choir is contained in the third window from the east in the south
aisle; in the third and fourth windows from the east in the north
clerestory; and in the fourth clerestory window from the east on the
opposite side. These windows date from the close of the fourteenth
century. There is also an early Perpendicular Jesse in the third window
from the west in the south aisle of the choir. The other windows of the
choir aisles east of the small eastern transepts, as well as the glass
in the lancet windows on the east side of the great western transepts
appear, he says, to be of the time of Henry IV.; the rest of the glass
in the choir is of the reigns of Henry V. and VI., chiefly of the
latter. He notices, also, that the white glass in the windows is
generally less green in tint than usual, and that he has learnt from Mr
Browne that it is all of English manufacture.
The great east window was glazed by John Thornton of Coventry. The terms
of the contract for this work, dated 1405, are extant. They provide that
Thornton shall "portray the said window with his own hand, and the
histories, images, and other things to be painted on it." It was to be
finished within three years. Glass, lead, and workmen were to be
provided at the expense of the chapter, and Thornton was to receive 4s.
a week, L5 a year, and L10 at completion, for his trouble.
The window is 78 feet high and 32 feet wide, and contains nine lights.
It is entirely filled with old glass, except for certain pitches of
modern glass, rather crude in colour, and inserted, it is said, after
the fire of 1829. It contains 200 panels of figures. The subjects in the
upper part are from the Old Testament, reaching from the creation of the
world to the death of Absalom. The lower part contains illustrations
from the Book of Revelations. In the lowest row of all are
representations of kings and archbishops.
In the top lights are figures of prophets, saints and kings. At the apex
of the window is a representation of the Saviour in Judgment.
This window is probably the finest example of Perpendicular glass in
England. The windows in the south aisle are rather fragmentary. In the
first two from the west the top lights are empty.
The second window is remarkable for the delicate modelling and drawing
of the heads. The head of the Virgin reminds one of one of Lippo Lippi's
Madonnas. That of an old man with a beard in the central light is German
in character. If these are compared with the crude and simple design of
the heads in the other windows, it will be obvious that they are of a
different origin. Nothing, however, is known of their history.
The third window has borders by Peckett. It contains the Jesse noted
before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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