Welsh Saints in Stained Glass (Download Link)

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Welsh Saints in Stained Glass

Welsh saints are embedded in the landscape of Wales in its place-names and the churches dedicated to them. From the 1880s, an increasing number of native saints were depicted in the stained glass of these churches as expressions of local, regional and national identity. This talk will outline the changing representations of Welsh saints in stained glass from the nineteenth century and into the twenty-first, with a particular focus on St David, whose feast day falls on 1 March. The study of the representation of a single saint provides an opportunity to compare the approaches and styles of a wide variety of artists and studios and has revealed some curious discoveries regarding consistencies in design and the reuse of cartoons.

Martin Crampin has worked on a series of research projects researching different aspects of the visual culture of Wales while based at the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies in Aberystwyth. His primary interests have been aspects of ecclesiastical art and medievalism, and this also forms the primary focus of his artistic practice, which is inspired by the patterns and images found in medieval decorative arts. He also works as a designer and photographer, specialising in the production of guides to stained glass. His online catalogue, Stained Glass in Wales, was launched in 2011 and his first major monograph, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches, was published in 2014. His most recent book, Depicting St David (2020), is a foretaste of his 'Welsh Saints from Welsh Churches', now in preparation.