Fortitudo
from Justice and Fortitude
Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales
1920
A two-light window depicting Michael with scales as Justice, George as Fortitude. Panels beneath: Michael on horseback leading heavenly host and shooting fallen angels with bow and arrow. George on foot killing the dragon. The figure of the fallen Satan with broken sword is shown under the feet of the standing figure of Michael.
firm/studio: Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd.
designer: Herbert Cole
Church of St Mary, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
north wall of the nave
Given in memory of Norman Owen, 5th Rifles, who died at Sheerness Military Hospital, 1 March 1919.
George is carrying the standard of the Red Lion.
The figure on the horse in the lower left-hand light is inspired by Revelation 19:11, Faithful & True on the white horse, who 'in righteousness...doth judge and make war'. In this chapter the figure is not Michael, but 'The Word of God' (verse 13).
The artist here seems indebted to - possibly - two pre-existing images. The first is The Vision of the White Horse 1798, by Philip James de Loutherbourg (Oil on canvas, 122 x 991 mm, purchased by the Tate Gallery, 1969) and the second Death on a Pale Horse c.1800 by William Blake (Pen, ink, wash and watercolour on paper, 393 x 311 mm, Syndics of Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge). The youthfulness of the rider, crown, armour and shape of the bow in this window have similarities with the Loutherbourg painting, whilst the pose of the horse has more in common with Blake's work. Interestingly, Blake certainly took his inspiration from Revelation 6:8, Death on a pale horse, but de Loutherbourg's was Revelation 19:11, the white horse with Faithful & True as rider. It is this latter image which predominates in this window, the subject matter seen as entirely appropriate for a War Memorial.
A two-light window depicting Michael with scales as Justice, George as Fortitude. Panels beneath: Michael on horseback leading heavenly host and shooting fallen angels with bow and arrow. George on foot killing the dragon. The figure of the fallen Satan with broken sword is shown under the feet of the standing figure of Michael.
firm/studio: Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd.
designer: Herbert Cole
Church of St Mary, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
north wall of the nave
Given in memory of Norman Owen, 5th Rifles, who died at Sheerness Military Hospital, 1 March 1919.
George is carrying the standard of the Red Lion.
The figure on the horse in the lower left-hand light is inspired by Revelation 19:11, Faithful & True on the white horse, who 'in righteousness...doth judge and make war'. In this chapter the figure is not Michael, but 'The Word of God' (verse 13).
The artist here seems indebted to - possibly - two pre-existing images. The first is The Vision of the White Horse 1798, by Philip James de Loutherbourg (Oil on canvas, 122 x 991 mm, purchased by the Tate Gallery, 1969) and the second Death on a Pale Horse c.1800 by William Blake (Pen, ink, wash and watercolour on paper, 393 x 311 mm, Syndics of Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge). The youthfulness of the rider, crown, armour and shape of the bow in this window have similarities with the Loutherbourg painting, whilst the pose of the horse has more in common with Blake's work. Interestingly, Blake certainly took his inspiration from Revelation 6:8, Death on a pale horse, but de Loutherbourg's was Revelation 19:11, the white horse with Faithful & True as rider. It is this latter image which predominates in this window, the subject matter seen as entirely appropriate for a War Memorial.
Record added by Martin Crampin, Additional contribution by John Morgan-Guy. Last updated on 28-09-2023
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- 'Fortitudo', Fortitude - one of the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost
- Justice, 'Justitia'; 'Giustitia divina' (Ripa) ~ one of the Four Cardinal Virtues
- Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon and his followers; the dragon (Devil, Satan) is cast out of heaven [Revelation 12:7-9]
- St George
- the Archangel Michael
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Further reading
Martin Crampin, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014), pp. 195-6.
Martin Crampin and John Morgan-Guy, Imaging the Bible in Wales (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2010), The Victory of Good Over Evil: St Michael the Archangel.
ReferencesThomas Lloyd, Julian Orbach and Robert Scourfield, The Buildings of Wales: Pembrokeshire (New Haven/London: Yale University Press, 2004), p. 186.
Click to show suggested citation for this record
Martin Crampin (ed.), Stained Glass in Wales Catalogue, University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth, 2023. (with a contribution by John Morgan-Guy)
https://stainedglass.delweddau.cymru/object/276 (accessed 24 November 2024)
https://stainedglass.delweddau.cymru/object/276 (accessed 24 November 2024)
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