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Francis Skeat

May 02, 2024

Francis Walter Skeat (3 December 1909 – 31 August 2000)[1] was an English glass painter who created over 400 stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals, both in England and overseas. Skeat was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the British Society of Master Glass Painters, and a member of the Art Workers Guild.[2]

A detail of the East Window in the church of St Giles, Hooke, Dorset. By Francis Skeat (1963)

Education and career edit

Skeat was born in St Albans in Hertfordshire; his mother Theodora had an embroidery studio in Chester and his grandfather was Walter William Skeat, the etymologist.[3] Skeat was educated at Lyndale School, St Albans and Whitgift School, Croydon.[4] At the age of eighteen, he was apprenticed to Harry Scott Bridgwater who was a leading mezzotint engraver.[4] He was a follower of Sir John Ninian Comper;[5] after exhibiting at the Paris salon in 1932, he returned to St Albans in 1933[3] and the following year he became a pupil of Christopher Webb, who had a studio in St Albans and encouraged him to work in stained glass.[4] He later worked for A. R. Mowbray and Co. in Oxford and for J. Wippell and Co. of Exeter; he also designed glass for the firm of Barton, Kinder and Alderson.[5]

In 1934 he presented two glass panels to the Church of St John in Old London Road, St Albans, where he was a parishioner. These panels, featuring the Good Shepherd and St John the Baptist, were his first church windows. In 1955 St John's was demolished and the panels were moved to St Peter's.[3] In 1937 he married Birgit Ann Mari Lindquist from Gothenburg, Sweden, where he lived until the end of the Second World War.[3] After the war, he opened his first studio at 7a Market Place, St Albans,[4] before moving his studio to Cross Lane, Harpenden.[3] His first major commission was for the largest window in the southern hemisphere, for the south transept of St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, South Africa.[3] The rose window was installed in 1957, and was designed by Frank Spears.[6]

Style and mark edit

 
A sample of Skeat's marks
 
Skeat's mark as seen at Holy Trinity, Crockham Hill, Kent

Skeat's works employ crisply drawn figures on a largely clear glazed background, which was a popular formula in post-war stained glass.[7] The panels he created for St John's church in St Albans bear his marks described as "a hart lodged at gaze in a small shield within a larger shield with walled top and alternate horizontal sections" and a "scrolled shield with a hart statant". The hart is taken from the Arms of the county of Hertfordshire. The lines across the shield are an allusion to a ford, a pun on the county's name.[3] His mark later became a rebus, St Francis of Assisi, around whom radiate small flying birds, together with his initials.[3]

Works edit

Main article: List of works by Francis Skeat

Among Skeat's works is the memorial to the footballer, Duncan Edwards, who played for Manchester United and England. He was one of eight players who was killed in the Munich air disaster in February 1958; Edwards was only 21 at the time of his death. On 27 August 1961 a stained-glass window depicting the player, designed by Skeat,[8] was unveiled in St Francis's Church, the parish church for the Priory Estate, Dudley, by Matt Busby, Edwards's former manager.

In the City of London church of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate there is a memorial window to John Smith, the governor of Virginia and associate of Pocahontas who was buried there in 1631. The window was designed by Skeat and given to the church by Bradford Smith in 1968. Captain John Smith is shown in the central panel of the window with his navigational instruments at his feet.[9]

The east window in the Lady Chapel of St Andrew's Church, Swavesey in Cambridgeshire, contains a 1967 Tree of Jesse by Francis Skeat.[10] In a letter to the incumbent and the churchwardens, Skeat writes:-[11]

"The window scheme of my design is intended to symbolise the descent of Our Lord from Abraham and the patriarchs as detailed in the opening chapter of St Matthew's Gospel. It is not merely a Jesse Tree since it goes back before his time..........."

Jesse appears in the right hand light and is in a standing position facing left. The figures in the window are:- first light, Boaz; second light, Ruth and above her Jacob; middle light, Abraham and Isaac; above them, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Child; at the top, Asa; fourth light, David with Solomon above him; fifth light, Jesse. The text at the bottom of the window, taken from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer version of Nicene Creed, reads:-

Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

Publications edit

In May 1977, Skeat published "Stained Glass of St Albans Cathedral".[12] Other works to which he has contributed include:[13]

  • The Stained Glass Work of János Hajnal: Vol. XV No. 3 (British Society: London, 1974–75)
  • A Survey of Stained Glass in Museums: Vol. XVII, No. 2 (British Society: London, 1978–79)
  • A Survey of Stained Glass in Museums and Art Galleries (Part Two): Vol. XVI, No. 3 (British Society: London, 1979–80)
  • The Vanished Glass of Exeter Cathedral[14]

References edit

  1. ^ (in Swedish). gravar.se. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Skeat, Francis". Stained glass designers: England. Professor Moriarty. 13 April 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h . St Peter's Church. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Fairweather, Peter (4 August 1999). . Churchmouse. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  5. ^ a b . Architects and Artists. Sussex Parish Churches. 15 November 2010. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  6. ^ . Ancestry24. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  7. ^ Thomson, Aidan McRae (29 August 2009). "St Saviour's Hagley". flickr. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  8. ^ . History of the Black Country in Photographs. The Black Country Community Forum. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  9. ^ "The John Smith Window". St Sepulchre-without-Newgate. The Friends of the Musicians' Chapel. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Jesse Tree, Swavesey". flickr. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  11. ^ Low, Malcolm (January 2006). (PDF). Tree of Jesse. Malcolm Low TSSF. p. 51. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  12. ^ Francis W. Skeat (May 1977). Stained Glass of St Albans Cathedral. Barracuda Books. ISBN 0-86023-044-9.
  13. ^ (PDF). The Stained Glass Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  14. ^ "Volume 37". Journal of the Society of Glass Technology. Society of Glass Technology. 1953. p. 176.

External links edit

  • List of Stained Glass Windows created by Francis Skeat 12 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  • List of Stained Glass Windows designed by Francis Skeat 12 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine

May 02, 2024
francis, skeat, francis, walter, skeat, december, 1909, august, 2000, english, glass, painter, created, over, stained, glass, windows, churches, cathedrals, both, england, overseas, skeat, fellow, royal, society, arts, fellow, british, society, master, glass, . Francis Walter Skeat 3 December 1909 31 August 2000 1 was an English glass painter who created over 400 stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals both in England and overseas Skeat was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts a Fellow of the British Society of Master Glass Painters and a member of the Art Workers Guild 2 A detail of the East Window in the church of St Giles Hooke Dorset By Francis Skeat 1963 Contents 1 Education and career 2 Style and mark 3 Works 4 Publications 5 References 6 External linksEducation and career editSkeat was born in St Albans in Hertfordshire his mother Theodora had an embroidery studio in Chester and his grandfather was Walter William Skeat the etymologist 3 Skeat was educated at Lyndale School St Albans and Whitgift School Croydon 4 At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to Harry Scott Bridgwater who was a leading mezzotint engraver 4 He was a follower of Sir John Ninian Comper 5 after exhibiting at the Paris salon in 1932 he returned to St Albans in 1933 3 and the following year he became a pupil of Christopher Webb who had a studio in St Albans and encouraged him to work in stained glass 4 He later worked for A R Mowbray and Co in Oxford and for J Wippell and Co of Exeter he also designed glass for the firm of Barton Kinder and Alderson 5 In 1934 he presented two glass panels to the Church of St John in Old London Road St Albans where he was a parishioner These panels featuring the Good Shepherd and St John the Baptist were his first church windows In 1955 St John s was demolished and the panels were moved to St Peter s 3 In 1937 he married Birgit Ann Mari Lindquist from Gothenburg Sweden where he lived until the end of the Second World War 3 After the war he opened his first studio at 7a Market Place St Albans 4 before moving his studio to Cross Lane Harpenden 3 His first major commission was for the largest window in the southern hemisphere for the south transept of St George s Cathedral Cape Town South Africa 3 The rose window was installed in 1957 and was designed by Frank Spears 6 Style and mark edit nbsp A sample of Skeat s marks nbsp Skeat s mark as seen at Holy Trinity Crockham Hill Kent Skeat s works employ crisply drawn figures on a largely clear glazed background which was a popular formula in post war stained glass 7 The panels he created for St John s church in St Albans bear his marks described as a hart lodged at gaze in a small shield within a larger shield with walled top and alternate horizontal sections and a scrolled shield with a hart statant The hart is taken from the Arms of the county of Hertfordshire The lines across the shield are an allusion to a ford a pun on the county s name 3 His mark later became a rebus St Francis of Assisi around whom radiate small flying birds together with his initials 3 Works editMain article List of works by Francis Skeat Among Skeat s works is the memorial to the footballer Duncan Edwards who played for Manchester United and England He was one of eight players who was killed in the Munich air disaster in February 1958 Edwards was only 21 at the time of his death On 27 August 1961 a stained glass window depicting the player designed by Skeat 8 was unveiled in St Francis s Church the parish church for the Priory Estate Dudley by Matt Busby Edwards s former manager In the City of London church of St Sepulchre without Newgate there is a memorial window to John Smith the governor of Virginia and associate of Pocahontas who was buried there in 1631 The window was designed by Skeat and given to the church by Bradford Smith in 1968 Captain John Smith is shown in the central panel of the window with his navigational instruments at his feet 9 The east window in the Lady Chapel of St Andrew s Church Swavesey in Cambridgeshire contains a 1967 Tree of Jesse by Francis Skeat 10 In a letter to the incumbent and the churchwardens Skeat writes 11 The window scheme of my design is intended to symbolise the descent of Our Lord from Abraham and the patriarchs as detailed in the opening chapter of St Matthew s Gospel It is not merely a Jesse Tree since it goes back before his time Jesse appears in the right hand light and is in a standing position facing left The figures in the window are first light Boaz second light Ruth and above her Jacob middle light Abraham and Isaac above them the Blessed Virgin Mary and Child at the top Asa fourth light David with Solomon above him fifth light Jesse The text at the bottom of the window taken from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer version of Nicene Creed reads Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made man Publications editIn May 1977 Skeat published Stained Glass of St Albans Cathedral 12 Other works to which he has contributed include 13 The Stained Glass Work of Janos Hajnal Vol XV No 3 British Society London 1974 75 A Survey of Stained Glass in Museums Vol XVII No 2 British Society London 1978 79 A Survey of Stained Glass in Museums and Art Galleries Part Two Vol XVI No 3 British Society London 1979 80 The Vanished Glass of Exeter Cathedral 14 References edit Francis Valter Skeat in Swedish gravar se Archived from the original on 13 December 2014 Retrieved 6 December 2014 Skeat Francis Stained glass designers England Professor Moriarty 13 April 2010 Retrieved 23 December 2010 a b c d e f g h History of the Windows of Saint Peter St Albans St Peter s Church Archived from the original on 17 July 2011 Retrieved 26 December 2010 a b c d Fairweather Peter 4 August 1999 Francis Skeat Churchmouse Archived from the original on 24 October 2012 Retrieved 23 December 2010 a b F W Skeat Architects and Artists Sussex Parish Churches 15 November 2010 Archived from the original on 18 February 2013 Retrieved 23 December 2010 St Georges Cathedral Cape Town Ancestry24 Archived from the original on 6 February 2010 Retrieved 27 December 2010 Thomson Aidan McRae 29 August 2009 St Saviour s Hagley flickr Retrieved 8 January 2011 Dedication of the Duncan Edwards window History of the Black Country in Photographs The Black Country Community Forum Archived from the original on 8 July 2011 Retrieved 23 December 2010 The John Smith Window St Sepulchre without Newgate The Friends of the Musicians Chapel 3 February 2007 Retrieved 23 December 2010 Jesse Tree Swavesey flickr Retrieved 25 December 2010 Low Malcolm January 2006 Swavesey Cambridgeshire St Andrew s Church PDF Tree of Jesse Malcolm Low TSSF p 51 Archived from the original PDF on 25 October 2010 Retrieved 30 December 2010 Francis W Skeat May 1977 Stained Glass of St Albans Cathedral Barracuda Books ISBN 0 86023 044 9 Francis Skeat publications PDF The Stained Glass Library Archived from the original PDF on 11 October 2010 Retrieved 8 January 2011 Volume 37 Journal of the Society of Glass Technology Society of Glass Technology 1953 p 176 External links editList of Stained Glass Windows created by Francis Skeat Archived 12 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine List of Stained Glass Windows designed by Francis Skeat Archived 12 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Skeat amp oldid 1221297347, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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