Leo Theron
Encyclopedia
Leo Théron is a South African stained-glass window artist who specialises in the dalles de verre technique (using glass and concrete).
in South Africa
and then at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris
.
Returning to South Africa he became involved in designing mosaics and leaded glass windows for new churches. Subsequently he specialized in the technique called dalles de verre sous beton, a method using coloured glass and concrete, developed in France
after the second world war, and which he developed as a distinctive style during a return visit to France in 1964, when he studied the work of Gabriel Loire
in Chartres
, which profoundly informed his approach to the medium.
From his studio in Pretoria, South Africa, Théron spent 35 years creating windows for 137 churches, many educational institutions, civic buildings, and private houses.
In 1978 he was awarded the medal of honour by the South African Academy for Arts and Science.
The major achievement of the dalles de verre technique is the creation of window walls or walls of light, which can occupy entire walls in churches or other buildings, reaching from floor to ceiling.
Théron has spoken of the magic of coloured glass as creating "the prism through which we see into eternity."
, some 55 km from Barcelona
, Catalonia
. It included more than 50 images of stained-glass windows designed and executed by Théron in South Africa, Italy
and Spain
. The emphasis was on his liturgical art, both figurative and abstract. Portraits in glass expressing the character and personality of saints and historical figures, were shown in prints of windows in southern Africa, as well as an important work - a window depicting Saint Francis - in a Franciscan monastery church near Ponticelli
in Italy. Also exhibited were aquarelles of Sant Fruitós de Bages, painted during his visit there in 1996, as well as innovative paintings inspired by his creative work in glass.
Théron's Dove of Peace design was chosen as the symbol of and CD cover for The Millennium Song – a song composed to announce the dawn of the third millennium, released by Michael Greenacre. The Dove of Peace window was installed in the house of Greenacre in Sant Fruitós de Bages
.
Windows by Leo Théron are to be seen at:
Education and career
Théron studied art at Rhodes UniversityRhodes University
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, established in 1904. It is the province’s oldest university, and is one of the four universities in the province...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and then at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Returning to South Africa he became involved in designing mosaics and leaded glass windows for new churches. Subsequently he specialized in the technique called dalles de verre sous beton, a method using coloured glass and concrete, developed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
after the second world war, and which he developed as a distinctive style during a return visit to France in 1964, when he studied the work of Gabriel Loire
Gabriel Loire
Gabriel Loire was a French stained glass artist of the twentieth century whose extensive works, portraying various persons or historical scenes, appear in many venues around the world. He founded the Loire Studio in Chartres, France which continues to produce stained glass windows...
in Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
, which profoundly informed his approach to the medium.
From his studio in Pretoria, South Africa, Théron spent 35 years creating windows for 137 churches, many educational institutions, civic buildings, and private houses.
In 1978 he was awarded the medal of honour by the South African Academy for Arts and Science.
The major achievement of the dalles de verre technique is the creation of window walls or walls of light, which can occupy entire walls in churches or other buildings, reaching from floor to ceiling.
Théron has spoken of the magic of coloured glass as creating "the prism through which we see into eternity."
Works
In 2000 a retrospective exhibition Leo Théron's work, A Life in Glass, was opened in Sant Fruitós de BagesSant Fruitós de Bages
Sant Fruitós de Bages is a municipality in the comarca of Bages inCatalonia, Spain. The monastery of Sant Benet de Bages is situated here....
, some 55 km from Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
. It included more than 50 images of stained-glass windows designed and executed by Théron in South Africa, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The emphasis was on his liturgical art, both figurative and abstract. Portraits in glass expressing the character and personality of saints and historical figures, were shown in prints of windows in southern Africa, as well as an important work - a window depicting Saint Francis - in a Franciscan monastery church near Ponticelli
Ponticelli
Ponticelli is an eastern suburb of Naples, southern Italy with a population of some 70,000 inhabitants, not counting the large number of unregistered and illegal residents, which some estimates put as high as 60,000.-Geography:...
in Italy. Also exhibited were aquarelles of Sant Fruitós de Bages, painted during his visit there in 1996, as well as innovative paintings inspired by his creative work in glass.
Théron's Dove of Peace design was chosen as the symbol of and CD cover for The Millennium Song – a song composed to announce the dawn of the third millennium, released by Michael Greenacre. The Dove of Peace window was installed in the house of Greenacre in Sant Fruitós de Bages
Sant Fruitós de Bages
Sant Fruitós de Bages is a municipality in the comarca of Bages inCatalonia, Spain. The monastery of Sant Benet de Bages is situated here....
.
Windows by Leo Théron are to be seen at:
- St Alban's Cathedral, Pretoria
- St Cyprian's CathedralSt Cyprian's Cathedral, KimberleyThe Cathedral Church of St Cyprian the Martyr, Kimberley, is the seat of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman, Anglican Church of Southern Africa. It became a Cathedral when the Synod of Bishops gave a mandate for the formation of the new Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in...
, Kimberley (Holy Spirit windows; St Francis; St Clare) - Moederkerk, Stellenbosch
- St Andrew's Church, Newlands