The Abbey's Fairless Windows
As my readers are aware, a stained glass window is to be inserted in [the aisle of] the new Nave of the Abbey Church. The window is the gift of Miss S A Fairless, in memory of her father. There are already three stained-glass windows in the North transept of the Church belonging [to] the Fairless family. These windows have a history of their own. I may say that in January, 1880, I received a letter from Mr James L Fairless, of Fairlawn, Kensington, in which some particulars were kindly given me with reference to the windows which that gentleman and his brother (Dr Fairless) were placing in the Church.
He writes that in the Autumn of 1878, happening to be in Florence with his family, he was struck with the beauty of the windows in the church of Santa Croce (the Westminster Abbey of Florence), and especially by that of the Spinelli Chapel, on the north side of the high altar, which appeared to be capable of reproduction and adoption to the purpose they had in view.
He goes on to say:— “Accordingly before leaving I arranged with the Director of the Uffizzi Gallery that he should, in case of necessity, find an artist to make a faithful copy in water colours of this window, but on mentioning the matter to Messrs Hardman and Co. on my return, I found this expedient to be unnecessary, as they had accurate drawings of the whole work made during an artistic tour. This window contains six figures arranged in two perpendicular series of three, and Messrs Hardman were commissioned to adapt the subjects for the purpose in view by disposing two figures for each of the three lancets to be filled, the border and exact arrangement of colour being equally adhered to. These windows in the Abbey Church are, therefore, a practical reproduction of the Florentine original, divided into three parts. Although thus separated and losing somewhat by this isolation of form and colouring, the balanced proportion and grace of design, the feeling of solemnity and repose, the subdued richness of tone and general harmony of the whole work, although everywhere differing in detail, cannot fail to be felt and appreciated. The work may be accepted as an example of the cultivated taste of the period when Art in Italy was approaching its greatest development both of feeling and expression, and when the inspired masters of the epoch (including Giotto, Ghiberti, Donatello, &c., by whom many of the windows in Santo Croce and the Duomo were designed) were rivalling each other in every branch of Art in the nearest approach to perfection.”
It is needless to add that these windows were inserted in the church in memory of our esteemed townsman, Mr Joseph Fairless, who died in April, 1873, aged 84 years, and of his wife, and their son Thomas Kerr Fairless. — An interesting paragraph from the Hexham Courant.