Stained glass is used to form decorative or allegorical designs, commonly done by setting contrasting pieces in a lead framework like a mosaic. Stain glass has a very rich and fascinating thousand year history. The process and design of stained glass has been primarily been applied to the windows of churches, mosques and other significant buildings. There have been many ingenious stained glass artists, particularly in Ireland that have shown the timeless beauty of this craft. Many of these artists have created pieces represent their own technical skill, unique style and capture their passion for this craft.

One of the most famous these artists was Harry Clarke. He was an artist that worked as a book illustrator, stained-glass artist and was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement in Ireland. In his lifetime he produced over 130 windows all across Ireland. His distinctive style can be identified within seconds of viewing his work. The distinction can be seen in his whimsical illustrative style and use of bold unusual colours to create subtle allegories. His use of colors capture these stories so beautiful and in such a large scale that they take your breath away. He also illustrated well-known stories such as Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen and Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination. You also view a list locations of his stain glass within here.

Wilhelmina Geddes was another extraordinary Irish stained glass artist. She had a workshop at the An Túr Gloine and was also a member of the Arts and Crafts Movement. An Túr Gloine (Irish for “The Glass Tower”) was a cooperative studio based in Dublin which was used to produce stained glass from 1903 until 1944. Geddes work was considered incredibly pioneering and it represented a rejection of the Late Victorian approach. She was a very important figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts movement and also the twentieth-century British stained glass revival.

“A complex character, she was highly intelligent, determined and a perfectionist. Her research was meticulous, she painted and repainted, cut and recut, fired and refired the glass until she got the perfect result.” – ‘Wilhelmina Geddes, Life and work’, Nicola Gordon Bowe (2015)

Evie Hone was an Irish painter and stained glass artist. She spent time in an Anglican Convent in 1925 in Cornwall and later converted to Catholicism in 1937. It has been said that this may have influenced her decision to begin working in stained glass. Initially, she worked as a member of the An Túr Gloine similar Geddes. She worked with An Tur Gloine until it closed in 1944. Her earlier paintings showcase her exploration with Cubism. Her technique at this time was was similar to artist Mainie Jellett and many have found it difficult to distinguish between them both (see example below). This is not unusual as the two were lifelong friends. Although it has been said that Hone had a more committed sense of colour.