The Stained Glass of St Salvator's Chapel The glazing of St SalvatorÂs Chapel has undergone many dramatic changes over the centuries. We have no evidence of what the original Medieval scheme looked like but, given the ornate architectural survivals, it is probable that finely patterned, grisaille glass would have played an essential role in the decoration of the church. The Chapel was stripped of its stained glass during the Reformation and nothing more is known about how it was glazed until the eighteenth century. During the restoration undertaken between 1759 - 60, the windows were cleared of their mullions and tracery, and were fitted with wooden frames and shutters. John OliphantÂs drawing of the Chapel (c.1767) reveals the disagreeable aspect these Âimprovements gave to the building. Nevertheless, the shutters remained in place until the late 1840s, when they were taken down and the windows filled with clear glass. Though elegant and attractive in execution, this clear glazing was only a temporary feature of the Chapel. The major restoration of the building begun by Principal Forbes in 1861 saw the Chapel completely re-glazed. in situ . However, photographs provide us with some idea of the overall impact of the scheme. The 1860s restoration saw all of the windows in the Chapel fitted with delicate new tracery. However, the westernmost window, and the small window set above the south door were glazed in diamond-leaded, clear glass. In addition, the first window to the east of the door was never executed. In its place is a fine window in Pre-Raphaelite style designed by Henry Holiday in the 1880s. | |
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