The discovery of an important 19th century painting design for a stained glass window in a Midlands church is sparking auction excitement.
The watercolour by renowned artist Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898) depicts St Christopher carrying the Christ child and is emblazoned with the words, ‘To the glory of God’. Hansons Auctioneers’ researchers located the same image on a stained glass window at the Church of St Editha’s in Tamworth.
Burne-Jones used his skills to create ceramic tiles, jewellery, tapestries and mosaics but his most significant designs were for stained glass windows. Examples of his work in glass form can be found in churches across the UK. Examples also exist in the USA and Australia.
Consequently, the watercolour is expected to excel in Hansons’ June 6 Iconic Design sale. It is guided at £3,000-£5,000 but, due to its religious and artistic significance, the firm hopes to see it rise above that figure.
Barry Jones, Head of Hansons’ Iconic Design sales, said: “It’s a really important find and we’re excited to see what it will achieve under the hammer. Burne-Jones was an English painter and designer associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group founded in 1848 by English painters, poets and art critics. It modelled itself on the Nazarene movement which aimed to revive spirituality through art.
“Burne-Jones also worked with William Morris as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co in the design of decorative arts. Morris (1834-1896) was a hugely influential English textile designer, poet, artist, writer and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts movement.
“Burne-Jones swept into the spotlight in 1877 when he exhibited eight oil paintings at the Grosvenor Gallery. These included a famous work called The Beguiling of Merlin. The timing was right and he was taken up as star of the new Aesthetic Movement.
“The painting we have discovered was purchased at auction in 1938 from the estate of renowned Pre-Raphaelite collector James Richardson Holliday. He was a major benefactor of Birmingham Museum and Birmingham University. A label on the back of the painting details the sale of the effects of Mrs Gertrude Holliday of Edgbaston, Birmingham, circa 1938.
“The artwork arrived at Hansons as part of a vendor’s collection and was not correctly identified. After research by myself and colleague Kate Beardmore, the correct church was identified, St Editha’s in Tamworth. A visit to the church with the painting confirmed it. This enabled us to source the painting in Burne-Jones’ online catalogue of works.
“The painting has been in a private collection for a number of years and presents a great opportunity to own an important piece by a respected Pre-Raphaelite artist, a contemporary of William Morris whose company made the church window.
“The design is part of Tamworth’s history and heritage and it would be wonderful to see it go to a bidder from the town. St Editha’s north chapel east window is made up almost entirely from designs by Edward Burne-Jones.“
The painting, Lot 153, will be offered in the June 6 Iconic Design Auction at Hansons Auctioneers.
Catalogue: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saelroom.com
Enquiries: [email protected]
Church image credit: Tanya Dedyukhina, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
