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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Christ Church Cranbrook

Artist Name: Harry Wright Goodhue

City: Bloomfield Hills

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 1927

Subject/Title of Window: Three Archangels

Brief Description of Subject: This grouping is over the altar in the Chapel of the Resurrection. They were designed by Wright Goodhue, nephew of Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, the architect of Cranbrook. They are in late Romanesque or Byzantine-Gothic style, which was favored by the artist.

Each lancet is made up of two panels, the upper panel depicts a full-length Archangel topped by one of its attributes, and the lower panel contains a medallion which pictures the Archangel in a scene from the Bible.

St. Raphael --- the name means "God heals'. Raphael appears in the Old Testament book Tobit. Tobit had gone blind and sent his son Tobias to collect a debt in a far away town. Tobias obtained a guide who said his name was "Azarias". On the journey they killed a fish and Azarias had Tobias save the gall bladder, liver, and heart. When they reached their destination Tobias married a woman named Sarah who was tormented by a demon named "Asmodeus". The gall bladder and liver expelled the demon and when they returned home the heart cured Tobit's blindness. Azarias then told them that he was really the Archangel Raphael and had been sent by God to cure Tobit and Sarah. The upper panel depicts Raphael with arms crossed over his breast (a pose of humility) and is topped by a pottery jug which is one of his attributes. The medallion in the lower panel is based on a painting by Titian called "Archangel Raphael and Tobias". As here, it depicts Raphael pointing the way for Tobias who is holding a fish.

St. Michael --- the name means "Who is like God". The upper panel depicts Michael fighting the dragon (Rev. 12:7-9) and is topped by a pair of scales --- tradition has Michael weighing souls at the Last Judgment", he then records the names in either the Book of the Blessed or the Book of the Damned (Daniel 12:1-2). The medallion in the lower panel depicts Michael battling the devil.

St. Gabriel --- the name means "God is my strength". Gabriel appears in the Bible mostly in the role of a messenger and is considered to be the only female Archangel. The upper panel depicts her with arms crossed over her bosom (a pose of humility) and is topped by an Annunciation Lily, which is one of her traits. The medallion in the lower panel depicts the "Annunciation" (Luke 1:26-38). Gabriel with arm raised, a gesture that means that she is speaking, tells the Virgin Mary that by the power of the Holy Spirit she will conceive the Messiah. Mary is pictured with her arms crossed over her bosom, a pose of humility. The Holy Spirit is seen in the form of a descending dove.

Inscriptions: St. Raphael (left)
Saint Michael (center)
St. Gabriel (right)


Condition of Window: good

Height: 3.25'

Width: 3.75'

Type of Glass and Technique: Antique or Cathedral Glass, Lead Came

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