Three Saints stained glass panels

Rectangular stained glass panel with the full length figure of St Nicholas of Myra, facing half-right. The saint wears a mitre and his head is surrounded by a yellow nimbus. A white and yellow cope is tied at his chest and hangs over a blue patterned alb. He holds a crozier with crook incorporating the seated figure of God the Creator holding orb in his left hand. Left side flanked by slender diapered column with pink capital and base. Red curtain with pearled border and window of white glass above it. His left hand, which was presumably raised in blessing, is missing.

St Nicholas of Myra (traditionally dated to 270-343 AD), was an early Christian bishop from the city of Myra (modern day Demre, Turkey). This panel commemorates a miracle in which the saint resurrected three butchered children, murdered at the hands of a butcher, who during a time of famine looked to sell the meat as ham. The three children stand in a barrel in which they had been pickled in the bottom right corner, their hands clasped in prayer.

By 1902 this panel was mounted in the landing glazing of 8 Great Western Terrace, the Glasgow town house of Sir William Burrell, alongside 45.437 and 45.438, and presumably amongst his earliest acquisitions. Donated to Glasgow by Sir William in 1944.

Published: William Wells, Stained and Painted Glass, Burrell Collection, 1965, no. 182.

Object type: Stained glass panel

Title: St Nicholas

Place associated: Southern Netherlands, Flanders (place of manufacture)

Date: Early 16th century

Materials: Coloured glass, lead

Dimensions: Original panel (approx): 1180 mm x 450 mm x 10 mm. Quarries (approx): 1300 mm x 630 mm x 10 mm