Fourteen Stations of the Cross (B) (1929)


Basilica of St. Patrick’s Purgatory, Pettigo, Lough Derg, Donegal..   Number of Lights 1 ,  Window: 14 Date 1929

In early 1927 Harry received a commission from Canon Keown for a series of Stations of the Cross for the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Purgatory, in Pettigo, Lough Derg.

This involved designing fourteen oval panels depicting the Apostles, St Paul and Mary, each one holding an inner medallion containing one of the stations (Bowe: 1994).

Harry was forced by his deteriorating health to travel to a sanatorium at Davos, Switzerland, in March 1929.  He sketched several designs for windows that were still outstanding, including the Lough Derg windows.  Each of the stations is exquisite in design and colouring.

Each window has a unique but elaborate background design. The figures in the tiny medallions convey a wide range of emotions from great sadness to quiet dignity.           

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