Corpus of Percy Bacon

Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Ecton, St Mary Magdalene, 1912

Northamptonshire

East Window: The offering of King David at the Cave of Adullam, copied from a woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld.
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East Window: The offering of King David at the Cave of Adullam.

East window: The Offering of King David at the Cave of Adullam.

East window: Tracery detail.

Posted 13 Oct 2022.

There are two Percy Bacon windows in St Mary Magdalene's, and the east, is unusual and unique in Bacon's work. The scene represents David's Mighty Warriors, or the Offering of King David at the Cave of Adullam (2 Samuel, 23.13-17). The story tells of the courage and devotion of three of his men who went into Bethlehem and their enemy's midst to bring water from the well to quench David's thirst. When they returned, David could not drink but instead poured the water onto the ground as an offering to his Lord, saying, "Far be it for me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” The window is dedicated to the memory of Maj-Gen Frederick Edward Sotheby who saw a great deal of service in the Crimean Campaign and in India, most notably during the Indian Mutiny. The window conveys many soldierly attributes; valour, courage, devotion, and obedience, and was described as a fitting subject for a soldier's memorial.¹

The scene fills all four lights and is remarkable in its colouring and detail. The main character of David occupies the second from left light while the others are filled with the men in his army. He holds a bowl from which the water falls to the ground. In the immediate background other soldiers look on from their tented encampment. Behind David two of his soldiers appear to be sleeping in their tent. On the right is a castle on the hill, possibly representing Bethlehem where David's enemies were camped. In the tracery angels holding lilies, signifying peace, and a sword and spear signifying war look on.

Stylistically the window has a certain arts and crafts flair, and is a major departure from the more usual Bacon studios 15th century conservatism. However, although the window is extremely well executed, it is essentially a direct copy of a woodcut by German artist Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, of 1860, entitled "David und Seine Helden". The image appeared in "Die Bibel in Bildern" published in German between 1852 and 1860.²

"David und seine Helden" ("David and His Heroes" aka "David Pouring out the Water") by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, circa 1860. The east window at Ecton is a direct copy of this scene. In the window, the main characters maintain their stances, expressions, apparel, and relative positions as in the von Carolsfeld woodcut. Many of the other features are also reworked into the window, the sleeping soldiers, the town on the hill and the tented encampment. Even the curly hair and curly beard of the warrior bringing water is reproduced.

In the Bacon window, the main characters maintain their stances, expressions and relative positions as in the von Carolsfeld woodcut. and likewise none of the characters is haloed, nor are there any architectonic niches. Many of the other features are also reworked into the window, the sleeping soldiers, the town on the hill and the tented encampment. Even the curly hair and curly beard of the warrior bringing water is reproduced. Bacon also copied a von Carolsfeld image from the same book for a window in St Mary's, Congerstone, Leicestershire.

There is very little of the white glass often used by the Bacon Studios style, and this window is, in may ways, similar to those in the north aisle of Lady St Mary, Wareham, Dorset, and the east window at St Andrew's, Kirkby Malzeard, North Yorkshire. The scene is strictly narrative, boldly coloured and dark. The whole scene with its many characters occupies the entire width, ignoring the mullions. It is very likely that this window was painted by a third party, and not by Bacon himself. The window is reported to have been executed under the supervision of Mr E. de H. Holding, a Northampton architect,³ and is possible that the departure of style was influenced by him.

The window is unsigned.

The other Bacon window in St Mary's is in the south chapel. This will be added once photos have been obtained.

References: Use your browser's Back button to return to text.

Report of the dedication ceremony 24th September 1912: Northampton Mercury - Friday 27 September 1912. p6.
von Carolsfeld, Julius Schnorr. Die Bibel in Bildern, 240 Darstellungen, erfunden und auf Holz gezeichnet, 1860, Ill. 106. The original was published in German in 30 parts between 1852 and 1860, with an English version appearing in 1861 under the title "The Bible in Pictures or Scripture History" (Wikipedia). Copy available at Google Books.
Report in The Builder 1912-09-27: Vol 103 Iss 3634, p361.

Location Map:

NGR: SP 82865 63547
Sat Nav Post Code: NN6 0QE