Suffer little children (B)
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Donabate, Co. Dublin. Window: 1, Number of Lights 2, Date 1926. Web Maps
The Suffer little children, two-light window in St. Patrick’s Church at Donabate was designed by Harry Clarke in 1925.
The window was created by artists from the Studio under Harry’s supervision (Bowe, Caron, and Wynne: 1988). It was ordered by the then Parish Priest of Donabate, Fr F. O Loughlin (Donabate website). The top panels of each light depict a sky of various shades of blue and purple and a landscape of mountains. Abundant foliage overhangs stone columns, reminiscent of Tiffany. The border of each top panel is also decorated with delicate foliage. The left light depicts St. Joseph with three women, one of whom is holding a baby. St. Joseph wears red robes and a green and golden cloak. He stands behind the group holding a staff. The lady with the long red hair holds a baby on her knee and gazes towards the group in the second light. The lower panel depicts the Holy family’s flight into Egypt. The right light depicts Jesus, in a striking outer robe of scarlet, holding a baby on his knee. A young boy stands beside him in golden robes and a white cloak, reminiscent of Jesus as a child. Mary is portrayed standing behind Jesus in robes of pale blue and purple. The end panel depicts the crucifixion of Jesus and the two thieves.
Photos by © Michael Cullen (for prints/sales www.irishimages.org) - Text © by Lucy Costigan Bowe, N. Gordon, The Life and Work of Harry Clarke, Irish Academic Press, 1994