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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: Robert Toland Wright

City: Bloomfield Hills

Window Shape: 5 (gothic arched, 2 vertical sections)

Date of Window: 1927

Subject/Title of Window: Life of St. Paul, Part 3

Brief Description of Subject: Each of the six medallions in all three windows bears an inscription identifying an incident in Paul’s life. Example: “Labor with Hands” shows Paul in his vocation as a tentamaker. Some of the depicted incidents in Paul’s life: The stoning of Stephen, the conversion of Paul, Paul preaching at Antioch, Paul before Ceasar (misspelled in window as “Ceaser”), imprisonment of Paul, conversion of the jailer, beheading of Paul, etc.

This is the last of three windows in the St. Paul Chapel. Each contains six medallions which have an inscription that names the scene depicted in the life of St. Paul. Some of the scenes depicted in this window are not in the Scriptures but can be found in the "Golden Legend", a book that was compiled starting around 1260 of the lives of saints and prophets and became a best seller soon after the printing press was invented. According to the "Golden Legend", Paul was preaching before a multitude of people in Rome when Nero's butler, who had come to hear him, fell from a window and died. St. Paul brought him back to life but Nero was incensed that someone had more power than he did so he summoned Paul to appear before him and had him beheaded. Inscription and source (top to bottom):

Left Lancet: Paul is Beheaded --- "Golden Legend"
                    Paul is Imprisoned --- he was imprisoned several times in his life, this probably refers to the time in
                                                      Rome where he wears chains --- Acts 28:20
                    Paul Before People --- not sure
Right Lancet: Paul Shipwrecked --- Acts 27:1-4
                      Before Ceasar [sic] --- "Golden Legend"
                      Cast Vipers From Hand --- Acts 28:1-6

Inscriptions: Paul is Beheaded
Paul is Imprisoned
Paul Before People
Paul Shipwrecked
Before Ceasar [sic]
Cast Vipers From Hand


Condition of Window: fair

Height: 10.75'

Width: 4.5'

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

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