DOUGLAS STRACHAN (SCOTTISH, 1875-1950), THE TWO TABLETS OF THE COVENANT
CIRCA 1916

stained, painted and leaded glass window, in pine frame

Provenance: Originally housed in Heatherlie Parish Church, Selkirk (now demolished), the windows were salvaged and purchased privately by the current owner circa 2003.

When combined, the bottom section of lots 582-4 read To the Glory of God and in the memory of George Robe (rts) of Dandswall 1841-1910
George Roberts was a former Provost of Selkirk, and it is likely his family commissioned or bequeathed the money for Strachan to execute some (if not all of) the panels.

Photographs of the windows in situ can be seen through the following link,
https://canmore.org.uk/site/100375/selkirk-yarrow-terrace-heatherlie-parish-church-and-church-halls

Note: The following five lots, 580-584, relate to Douglas Strachan - the most important Scottish stained glass designer of the 20th century.

Strachan was born in Aberdeen in 1875, going on to study at Gray's School of Art before moving to Manchester to pursue a career working as a newspaper illustrator.

It wasn't until 1898 he would begin to work in the medium of stained glass, likely studying with Walter Williams of Williams Brothers & Co. of Chester, Manchester and London. He would soon return to Aberdeen, working as a mural and portrait painter.

In 1899 he travelled to France and Italy, a seminal journey that would have a longlasting impact on his work as a stained glass artist. In particular, he seems to have been enthralled with the medieval windows of Chartres, 'inspired above all by their luminous monumentality rather than specific details of style and technique'.

The windows he produced around this time display both that pivotal influence of Medieval European art, as well as a growing interest in works of the Arts & Crafts movement.

By 1909 his reputation as a stained glass artist had grown, with him soon appointed head of the Craft department at the Edinburgh College of Art. With a growing number of commissions coming in, he would resign from the post in 1911, after which, and until his death, he would dedicate his working life to stained glass.

By 1928, he had won international acclaim, this bolstered by important works including four windows at The Peace Palace in The Hague, as well as the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle. Beyond this he designed windows for over 350 churches across the UK, including St. Paul's Cathedral (St. Dunstan's window), Paisley Abbey, and Winchelsea Parish Church in Sussex, all helping to cement his place as one of the most important designers of stained glass in history.

The works offered present a highly rare opportunity to own works by this highly significant figure within the history of Scottish art.

approx. 108cm x 73cm

Condition Report

Condition good to fair. Missing fragment from lower left. Hairline cracks notable to lower panes.

Additional images now available.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES WITHOUT REAR ILLUMINATION, PLEASE DO ZOOM IN TO THE PRIMARY IMAGE FOR CLEARER VIEWS AS TO ANY CONDITIONAL ISSUES.