Saints Rita and Bernard (1924) (B)


Church of Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Window: 2, Number of Lights 2,  Date 1924. Map

This three light window is located in the south aisle of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook. The two outer lights were designed by Harry Clarke. The central light is by William McBride (Bowe: 1994). There is a lavish decorative floral frame around each of the windows in the art nouveau style.

The first light depicts St. Rita, the fourteenth century Italian saint who is the patron saint of hopeless causes. The main panels depict the saint attired in a brown Augustinian robe with a black headdress. A delicate lattice containing several bees is depicted in front of the saint.

The lower panel depicts St. Rita, with St. Augustine, the founder of her order, and St. John the Baptist. The third light depicts St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a twelfth century Cistercian abbot who founded several monasteries and became renowned for his writings. The main panels depict the saint wearing simple grab of grey and beige, and an abbot’s mitre. The lower panel depicts St. Malachy visiting St. Bernard at Clairvaux. 

References

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