norwegian wood (this bird has flown)

So one of my New Year's resolutions for 2011 was to go around to all the parish churches in York and photograph the stained glass, in the hopes of making my life a bit easier come essay and dissertation time. I've also got an internship project this term researching the stained glass in York. I am slowly beginning to actually do this, and will share some of the medieval windows I like from around town on the blog.

I'll begin with St. Olave's Church, which is just around the corner from my house, and adjacent to the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey, which I've shown before on here.

A church has been on this site since the eleventh century.
The present-day building dates primarily to the fifteenth.


It's the earliest church to have been
dedicated to St. Olave, King of Norway.
That's him.


Looking towards the high altar and east window.
This is where the only medieval glass
in the church is located.


No one was around, so I went onto the altar to take my pictures.
I was worried someone was going to come out and yell at me.
In which case my plan was to start speaking French and
pretend I had no idea what they were saying.
Luckily it didn't come to that.


Above the window. My favourite kind of blue ceiling
with gilded stars. Seriously, if I ever get my own home
(which let's be honest, at the rate I'm going will probably never
happen), I am painting every single ceiling in it like this.

But back to the window.
It dates to the mid-fifteenth century.
Although heavily fragmented and restored, the main lights
feature five large figures of saints under Perpendicular
canopies and against alternating blue and ruby backgrounds.


The first saint is unidentified.


The robes are clearly mutilated and incoherent.
But I find such beauty in these fragmented panels.
Look at all the gorgeous patterns and detail.


What I love most about this panel are the skeletons.
You may have gathered that I have a thing for skulls.


Next panel has been identified
as St. Dunstan, because he holds a
hammer.


I love his vestments.
Especially the stars.


Really beautiful silver stain
(which gives the yellow colour) throughout.


Again, gorgeous patterns and designs.
Especially the ermine by his feet!
Also notice the fragmented angels.


Centre panel saint.


The fragments are again super delicately rendered.


This next guy wears a crown and is bearded, which
makes him a good match for St. Olave,
the namesake of the church.


These were a bit tricky to photograph, but you get the picture.


He holds an open book with some writing.
Maybe a clue to his identification.
I need to go back with my binocs.


Last figure, also unidentified.


The realism of his expression is amazing.
He looks so forlorn with the head resting on hand!
But fab hair.


And underneath the figure we see these smaller figures,
perhaps they were angels because there are some angel
wing fragments visible. Their expressions mirror those of
the big guy above.


And a bit o' heraldry pour conclure.

xx