Reviewer
In this issue of Vidimus, we have reviews of two new books by Vidimus reader Gordon Plumb.
Just Published
St Martin’s: The Making of a Masterpiece
Arthur Penn, St Martin’s: The Making of a Masterpiece. This is a splendid book about St Martin’s church, Brampton, and its famous stained glass windows designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, and executed in the William Morris studio. The first edition of this work appeared in 1993 with only black and white illustrations. Before his death on 26 February 2008, Arthur Penn revised and enlarged his work. This new edition is published by his son as a tribute to Arthur (whom many will remember from BSMGP conferences with great affection) and is now embellished with coloured illustrations, and in a larger format. Most of the illustrations come from photographs taken by Sonia Halliday in 1977. Photographs are also included from Sheila Kirk’s book on the architect Philip Webb, published in 2005, and a few additional photographs were provided by Gordon Plumb. The result is an invaluable guide to the church (especially its stained glass) – and this from one who has known the church intimately since he went to be its incumbent in 1967. The book is excellent value and is available, post free, from David Penn, Millyard Studios, 3 Mill Yard, Staveley, Cumbria LA9 7AE. +44 (0)1539 721836. David is able to accept cheques and debit/credit card payments. Revised edition, 2008. 87pp. ISBN: 978-0-9559175-0-9. £12.50.
Stained Glass in the East Riding. This modest little booklet is an invaluable guide to some of the more interesting stained glass in the East Riding of Yorkshire. There is some medieval glass (especially at Beverley Minster and Holy Trinity Hull), but perhaps equally important is the fine nineteenth- and twentieth-century glass by a wide range of firms and individuals. The East Riding has some late eighteenth-century heraldic glass by William Peckitt (at Harpham), excellent early Clayton & Bell, fine Morris windows, and some Pugin/Hardman glass of outstanding quality. The highlights also include glass designed by Walter Crane, a set of six windows by Douglas Strachan (at Hotham), and modern glass by Helen Whittaker and Alfred Fisher. A most valuable supplement to Pevsner for the church crawler, this booklet is part of a series on aspects of East Yorkshire churches. Copies are available from the East Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust, Glencoe House, Main Street, Bainton, Driffield, East Yorkshire. YO25 9NE. 21pp.
Other Books of Interest
Stained Glass and the Victorian Gothic Revival
Albrecht Dürer: Art in Transition
Readers interested in learning more about nineteenth-century stained glass will certainly enjoy Jim Cheshire’s magisterial book Stained Glass and the Victorian Gothic Revival. Manchester University Press, 2004. ISBN 0719063469, 9780719063466. 240 pages, 56 b&w and 12 colour illustrations, price £49.99.
Albrecht Dürer: Art in Transition. A fully illustrated catalogue of the exhibition of Albrecht Dürer prints currently on show at the Museum of Biblical Art in New York is available. The catalogue is written by Dr Mechthild Haas, Director of the Graphics Department at the Hessisches Landesmuseum, Germany. 136 pp. in both English and German. USD 20. Copies can be bought via the museum’s website.
