The Beautiful Stained Glass of Harry Clarke

On the third day of our study tour to the Isle of Man we visited Castletown to view Harry Clarke's beautiful stained glass windows in St Mary's Catholic Church.

I took this close-up of the windows that depict the Annunciation and the Resurrection. The detail and colours are absolutely stunning.

Dublin-born Harry Clarke (1889 to 1931) was undoubtedly Ireland's greatest stained glass artist and a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement. During his short life Harry created stained glass windows for churches, private dwellings and commercial venues throughout Ireland and England, and as far a field as the USA and Australia.

Clarke was especially skilful in exploiting the qualities of the new slab glass, which E.S. Prior had invented in 1889. He enhanced the qualities of this richly coloured glass by acid-etching, the application of stains and fine delicate painting.