![[35911] Wakefield Cathedral : Harrison Window](https://www.diywoodworkingprojects.datawarehousecenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/22072662358_a612148a6d.jpg)
The Cathedral Church of All Saints in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is home to a beautiful stained-glass window created by Charles Eamer Kempe in 1873. Kempe was a painter who specialized in decorating the walls, ceilings, and woodwork of churches in the 1860s. He had a passion for high church practices and established his own stained glass company, CE Kempe & Co, in London in 1868.
Despite not being a trained artist, Kempe had an artistic eye and was able to suggest ideas to his artists and cartoonists. He insisted that only his firm’s name should receive credit for the standard of work, and individual members of the studio remained anonymous.
Kempe perfected the use of silver stain on clear glass, which creates a delicate or deep yellow tint depending on the amount of stain. His greatest stylistic influence was the stained glass of Northern Germany and Flanders from the 16th century, and he frequently traveled to Europe with his company artists to glean inspiration.
Kempe’s firm bore a wheatsheaf insignia from about 1895 until his death in 1907, derived from his family’s coat of arms. After his passing, his cousin Walter Tower and three other directors took over the firm, and the insignia changed to a wheatsheaf with a black tower.
The Harrison Memorial Window in Wakefield Cathedral serves as a testament to Kempe’s work and his talent for combining artistic vision with high church practices. The window commemorates Robert and Mary Harrison, and their children Samuel Fozard and Sarah. The surviving children commissioned the window in 1873 in memory of their departed family members.
The window is particularly notable for its intricate details, including the depiction of the Harrison coat of arms and various religious symbols. The use of silver stain on clear glass gives the window a warm, welcoming glow, and the overall effect is a testament to Kempe’s skill as an artist and his passion for high church traditions.
In conclusion, Wakefield Cathedral’s Harrison Memorial Window by Charles Eamer Kempe is a beautiful example of the artist’s skill and his dedication to high church practices. The window is a testament to the enduring power of stained glass as a medium for religious expression and artistic beauty.