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Recreation of the Charity window, painted by Jonathan Cooke, 2010-12
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Recreated Charity window in situ in the recreated Tivoli Recess, 2013. © A.C. Cooper (colour) Ltd.
Recreation of the Charity window, painted by Jonathan Cooke, 2010-12
Museum number: XSG3
On display: Tivoli Recess (pre-booked tours only)
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
This project was many years in the making, the Museum working with Barley Studios of York who commissioned the glass painter Jonathan Cooke to produce the finished window.
The first stage was re-photographing the New College Charity window, on which Collins based the window he created for Soane. This was done in xxx by generous permission of the Provost and Fellows of New College, Oxford.
During the process many discoveries were made - another Collins copy of the same window turned up in north Germany and was drawn to Keith's attention by chance when a former pupil consulted him about it. Another large section of the lower part, with some of the frame, was found jammed down the side of a metal shelving unit when hte Museum's Cast Store in the Basement of No. 12 was cleared out in 2010 (a paving project for Opening up the Soane).
The challenge for Jonathan was compounded by the impossibility of using some chemicals today that were certianly used by Georgian glass painters.
It was decided to re-install the central section of the lower panel from the original window which survived the war, within Jonathan's new painted outer borders.
The frame was reproduced working as closely as possible to colour and dimensions of the original - of which the new fragment gave us samples. This was possible because of the decisoin of double-glaze (in effect) the new window which meant that we did not have to worry about making the actual window completely weather - proof.
The first stage was re-photographing the New College Charity window, on which Collins based the window he created for Soane. This was done in xxx by generous permission of the Provost and Fellows of New College, Oxford.
During the process many discoveries were made - another Collins copy of the same window turned up in north Germany and was drawn to Keith's attention by chance when a former pupil consulted him about it. Another large section of the lower part, with some of the frame, was found jammed down the side of a metal shelving unit when hte Museum's Cast Store in the Basement of No. 12 was cleared out in 2010 (a paving project for Opening up the Soane).
The challenge for Jonathan was compounded by the impossibility of using some chemicals today that were certianly used by Georgian glass painters.
It was decided to re-install the central section of the lower panel from the original window which survived the war, within Jonathan's new painted outer borders.
The frame was reproduced working as closely as possible to colour and dimensions of the original - of which the new fragment gave us samples. This was possible because of the decisoin of double-glaze (in effect) the new window which meant that we did not have to worry about making the actual window completely weather - proof.
Literature
Alison Gilchrist, 'A Tale of Twin Sisters', The Georgian [the magazine of The Georgian Group], 2020, Issue 1, pp.36-41
Associated items
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk