Percy Bacon Brothers

Last updated
Percy Bacon & Brothers
Industry Stained glass
Founded1892;131 years ago (1892) at 11 Newman Street, London, W, United Kingdom
FounderPercy Charles Haydon Bacon
Defunct1930s
Headquarters
Area served
Window from St Mary's Church, North Creake, Norfolk St Mary's church - stained glass window - geograph.org.uk - 941686.jpg
Window from St Mary's Church, North Creake, Norfolk

Percy Bacon and Brothers was a firm which produced stained glass, church furnishings, and decorations. The firm was set up in 1892 by stained glass artist and sculptor, Percy Charles Haydon Bacon, and operated for many years from 11 Newman Street, London. He was joined there by his brothers, Herbert W. Bacon, and Archibald Arthur Bacon. [1] The vast majority of the firm's output of stained glass was installed in Great Britain, with a few examples in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but their work can also be found in the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Contents

History

Percy Charles Haydon Bacon was born in Ipswich UK, on 23rd December 1860, the son of a boot closer, Joshua Bacon and his wife, Elizabeth. [2] When his father died in 1881, his family moved to 65 Charlotte Street, London. [3] Here Percy Bacon began work as a stained glass artist, designing windows for James Powell & Sons, such as the east window of Tempo Church, Fermanagh, and the reredos at Yarcombe, Devon, among others. [4] Between 1892 and 1923 the business operated from a studio at 11, Newman Street, London, but in 1923 moved to 4, Endsleigh Gardens, London. [5] In its early years the firm enjoyed a good deal of success, being commissioned to design and execute stained glass windows in Manchester Cathedral (1892), [6] and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Cathedral (1895).

The firm worked closely with architect George Fellowes-Prynne, who wrote; "[Percy Bacon's] glass and painting is, I consider, second to none, and as in the carrying out he works entirely in harmony with my wishes, and in close conjunction with me as the work proceeds", I feel entirely confident of completely satisfactory results". [7] Many commissions also came from the Reverend Architect Ernest Geldart with whom the firm worked from at least 1894. [8]

In April 1917 the firm of Percy Bacon and Brothers Limited went into voluntary liquidation, as a result of financial problems. [9] Shortly afterward, on 6th June 1917, Percy Bacon registered a new company, "Percy Bacon Limited", still operating from 11, Newman Street, London. [10] This would be the name under which the firm operated until its final closure in 1932. [11]

In 1921 Percy C. H. Bacon was one of the founding subscribers to, and member of The British Society of Master Glass Painters along with, amongst others, his contemporaries John Hardman, Walter Tower (Kempe & Co), Arther Powell (J Powell & Sons) and Thomas Grylls (Burlison & Grylls). [12]

In around 1930 the firm seems to have moved to premises in Reading, Berkshire, though no records have come to light which confirm this, with the exception of one window, installed by the firm in 1930 in St Matthew's Church, Ipswich, Suffolk, which bears the signature "PERCY BACON READING". Percy Bacon died on 2nd Jnuary 1935 at a nursing home in Reading, Berkshire.

Windows

The windows of Percy Bacon Brothers were inspired by those of the 15th century, with the central figures generally framed by architectonic canopies of Late Gothic or Early Northern Renaissance form. The windows are opulent in style, generally depicting Biblical and historical figures of the Church richly attired in heavy robes, often decorated at the borders with pearls. The lower section of the window often contains a scroll bearing the relevant inscription, and supported by two angels. Output of the firm in the early years of the First World War had declined considerably, but following the firms liquidation in April 1917 and restart under its new name in June of that year, the firm was called upon to produce a great many memorial windows. These often depict heroic subjects, the Archangel Michael and St George, and virtues of Victory, Valour, Courage and Fortitude.

Among the characteristics of the glass of this firm is that the flesh is of translucent off-white glass that may be fawn or greenish in hue and relies on very detailed painting and stippled shading to achieve effect. The hair is often stained yellow with silver nitrate. The canopies are rarely coloured glass, but employ linear painting and shading, and have elements picked out with silver stain. The robes employ intensely coloured glass, often flashed, and sometimes etched to achieve elaborate patterns. There are often borders on the robes that are elaborately painted to resemble pearls and facetted jewels. The drawing of the figures displays a typical Late 19th-century academic approach.

Examples

Last Supper as panel of painted ceramic, created for a reredos in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh that was designed by George Fellowes Prynne and installed in 1913 Armagh St. Patrick's Cathedral of the Church of Ireland Reredos 2019 09 09.jpg
Last Supper as panel of painted ceramic, created for a reredos in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh that was designed by George Fellowes Prynne and installed in 1913

See also

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References

  1. The Builder Vol 67 1894 18 Aug, p120.
  2. Census of England and Wales, 1861, Town of Ipswich, Parish of St Matthew
  3. Census of England and Wales, 1881, City of London, Parish of Pancras
  4. Powell's books housed in the V&A.
  5. Sussex Parish Churches, (accessed 25-08-2013)
  6. The Builder, 17 December 1892, p484. Design and installation of two windows in the new baptistery for the diocesan architect James Stretch Crowther.
  7. Letter written to the prospective donor of a window in Kea Church, Cornwall. 5th October 1925. Cornwall Record Office ref. P97/2/29.
  8. Bettley, J. A Month in the country Revd Ernest Geldart at Kelsale, Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, Volume 4, p498.
  9. London Gazette 3rd April 1917. Issue 30008. Page 3253.
  10. The Builder, 22 June 1917, p403.
  11. London Gazette, 30 September 1932, Issue 33868, p6189.
  12. Memorandum and Articles of Association of the British Society of Master Glass Painters, 1921; p10
  13. Mulligan, Kevin V. (2013). The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster. Yale University Press. p. 103. ISBN   978-0-300-18601-7.
  14. "Stained Glass of Percy Bacon". www.celestial-light.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-02.