The Ascension

Daniel Bell

1877

Top panel of East window

Grove Gardens Chapel

Richmond upon Thames

The East window here was originally reported in the Building News of 14 December 1877 to be the work of Heaton, Butler and Bayne (see p. 603), but Bell wrote in to protest that he had been the designer of both the mosaic and the window in the chapel, "under the direction of Mr Blomfield" (21 December 1877, p. 614).

It is so sad to learn that "the rest of this window has been vandalised beyond repair" (Eberhard). The panel indicates a fine sense of colour, contrast, detail and composition, and even of movement. It is the work of an experienced designer at his best.

  • Grove Gardens Chapel

    • Photograph © L. Pekarova, and text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. References to the Building News prompted by an enquiry from Andrew Scott. Many thanks! [Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]