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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Chapel in the Woods; Starr Commonwealth

Studio Name: Burnham (W. H.) Studios

City: Albion

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1954

Subject/Title of Window: Saint Isidore

Brief Description of Subject: As a lad, Saint Isidore, son of a Spanish Duke, despaired at his failures in school. He ran away - from school and from home. But he found the way long. He grew very tired and sat down to rest, beside a spring. As he rested, Saint Isidore notice a stone which had been hollowed out by the persistant dripping of the water from the spring. If a stone could be hollowed out by the persistant dripping of water, Saint Isidore decided he should be able to conquer his school subjects. He went back to his schoolmaster and by hard application to work, even during his boyhood, he became one of the most learned men of his time.

His death in 636 marks Saint Isidore as one of our earliest saints.

There is a masterful rhythm and color in this window. The foreground represents a rhythmic order of plant form. The grace of the small tree on the left, the fronds on the right, frame the perfectly balanced figure of Saint Isidore as he kneels in prayer. His rod rests against his shoulder, his wine-cask is hung from his belt.

An angel guides the plow along the furrow. The upper part of the window represents a fascinating pattern of geometric forms - the cultivated fields. There is an extensive perspective in this window which gives a most satisfying sense of distance in a lovely rolling countryside.

The colors are gloriously ruddy. The finest detail is clearly portrayed: the highlight in the eye of the ox, the veins in Sainte Isidor's hand, the sharply chiseled cheek bone, the border on the wine-cask, the delicate fingers of the angel, and the exquisite formation of the angel's wings.

From "May All Who Enter This Chapel-in-the-Woods Rejoice and Be Exceeding Glad in The Love of Jesus Christ Our Lord," by Starr Commonwealth For Boys, Albion, Michigan.

Inscriptions: Wilbur Herbert Burnham


Condition of Window: Good

Height: 4'

Width: 2'

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

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