William Peckitt
Encyclopedia
William Peckitt was an English glass-painter and stained glass
maker. He was based in York
throughout his working life, was one of the leading Georgian
glass craftsmen in England and helped “keep the art of glass painting alive during the eighteenth century". In fact, "it was William Peckitt who did most of the stained glass and painted glass work that survives from the second half of the eighteenth century".
, a village near Easingwold
, 15 miles North West of York
, and was baptised on 13 April 1731; his parents were William, a fellmonger
and glove maker, and Ann. The family moved to York sometime prior to 1752 where Peckitt worked in his father’s glove making business before establishing himself as a glass painter in Colliergate, York.
He married Mary Mitley, daughter of the sculptor Charles Mitley on 3 April 1763 and the couple had 4 daughters. Peckitt worked throughout his life on the maintenance of the medieval glass in York Minster
as well as painting new windows there. He also undertook commissions for cathedrals, churches and houses throughout England. He produced windows for a number of colleges including the "fabulous" Alma Mater
window for Trinity College
. He died on 14 October 1795 and is buried in the church of St Martin-cum-Gregory, York.His wife made a memorial window to him in the church and it is placed next to a memorial to two of his daughters by Peckitt himself.
of Stained Glass”. He continued these experiments throughout his life and in 1780 he patented an invention "for blending Coloured and Stained Glass". Although his contributions to the technical development of the craft have been well recognised and documented his draughtsmanship has sometimes been criticised;” his work has little merit in either design or colour”. He attempted to resolve this by employing established draughtsmen such as the Italians Biagio Rebecca
and Giovanni Battista Cipriani
to draw cartoon
s for him.
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
maker. He was based in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
throughout his working life, was one of the leading Georgian
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
glass craftsmen in England and helped “keep the art of glass painting alive during the eighteenth century". In fact, "it was William Peckitt who did most of the stained glass and painted glass work that survives from the second half of the eighteenth century".
Biography
William Peckitt was born in HusthwaiteHusthwaite
Husthwaite is a village and civil parish in Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately four miles north of Easingwold.Husthwaite is also the surname of a small number of families worldwide....
, a village near Easingwold
Easingwold
Easingwold is a small market town and a civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 4,233.It is located north of York, at the foot of the Howardian Hills....
, 15 miles North West of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, and was baptised on 13 April 1731; his parents were William, a fellmonger
Fellmonger
A fellmonger was a dealer in hides or skins, particularly sheepskins, who might also prepare skins for tanning. The name is derived from the Old English ‘fell’ meaning skins and ‘monger’ meaning dealer...
and glove maker, and Ann. The family moved to York sometime prior to 1752 where Peckitt worked in his father’s glove making business before establishing himself as a glass painter in Colliergate, York.
He married Mary Mitley, daughter of the sculptor Charles Mitley on 3 April 1763 and the couple had 4 daughters. Peckitt worked throughout his life on the maintenance of the medieval glass in York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
as well as painting new windows there. He also undertook commissions for cathedrals, churches and houses throughout England. He produced windows for a number of colleges including the "fabulous" Alma Mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
window for Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He died on 14 October 1795 and is buried in the church of St Martin-cum-Gregory, York.His wife made a memorial window to him in the church and it is placed next to a memorial to two of his daughters by Peckitt himself.
Glass painting and stained glass
By Peckitt’s time, the medieval art of manufacturing stained glass had been lost and “all that survived were the painting of enamels on to glass and the process of silver staining”. Although most of the work produced by Peckitt was painted glass he did experiment with stained glass and produced windows incorporating it, unlike his contemporaries. He “realised that colour is the sine qua nonSine qua non
Sine qua non or condicio sine qua non refers to an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient...
of Stained Glass”. He continued these experiments throughout his life and in 1780 he patented an invention "for blending Coloured and Stained Glass". Although his contributions to the technical development of the craft have been well recognised and documented his draughtsmanship has sometimes been criticised;” his work has little merit in either design or colour”. He attempted to resolve this by employing established draughtsmen such as the Italians Biagio Rebecca
Biagio Rebecca
Biagio Rebecca was an Italian painter, active mainly as a fresco decorator in England. Born in Rome, his apprenticeship is unknown. In England, he was known for neoclassical scenes from mythology, often collaborating with Robert Adam for example at Harewood House and at Kedleston Hall. He also...
and Giovanni Battista Cipriani
Giovanni Battista Cipriani
Giovanni Battista Cipriani , Italian painter and engraver, Pistoiese by descent, was born in Florence.-History:His first lessons were given him by a Florentine of English descent, Ignatius Hugford, and then under Anton Domenico Gabbiani...
to draw cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
s for him.
Examples of his work
There are a number of examples of Peckitt’s work in England and some of the more important are listed below.Yorkshire (old boundaries)
- BoyntonBoynton, East Riding of YorkshireBoynton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately west of the town of Bridlington and lies on the B1253 road.According to the 2001 UK census, Boynton parish had a population of 161....
, St Andrew’s Church. Heraldic and mosaic work. 1768. - Burton Agnes HallBurton Agnes HallBurton Agnes Hall is an Elizabethan manor house in the village of Burton Agnes, near Driffield in Yorkshire. It was built by Sir Henry Griffith in 1601–10 to designs attributed to Robert Smythson...
. Window of Roger de Somerville. - CoxwoldCoxwoldCoxwold is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated 18 miles north of York and is where the Rev. Laurence Sterne wrote A Sentimental Journey....
, St Michael. Heraldic glass. - Denton HallDenton Hall, WharfedaleDenton Hall is an English country house located to the north of the River Wharfe, at Denton between Otley and Ilkley in North Yorkshire, England, and set within a larger Denton estate of about , including a village, church, and landscaped gardens....
. Private Chapel. - HarphamHarphamHarpham is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located just south of the A614 road, approximately north east of Driffield and south west of Bridlington....
, St John of Beverley. Windows in St Quentin family Chapel.1771. - RipleyRipley, North YorkshireRipley is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire in England, a few miles north of Harrogate on the A61 road towards Ripon.A castle dating from the 15th century, Ripley Castle, has been the home of the Ingilby family for 700 years. The present owner is Sir Thomas Ingilby, 6th Baronet , the...
Castle. The Staircase Hall is lit by a Venetian window with armorial glass. 1784 - 85 - YarmYarmYarm is a small town and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North East England. It is on the south bank of the River Tees and for ceremonial purposes is in North Yorkshire...
, St Mary MagdalenSt Mary Magdalene, YarmSt Mary Magdalene is a Church of England parish church in the town of Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees. Administratively, it is a parish of the Diocese of York. The current rector is the Reverend Simon Gurd, BA....
. Moses window in the south aisle . 1763. - York MinsterYork MinsterYork Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
. Several windows including Abraham and Solomon in the south Transept. He carried out the resetting of, and repair to, the medieval glass throughout his life and painted the central sunburstSunburst (design)A Sunburst is a design or figure commonly used in architectural ornaments and design patterns. It consists of rays or "beams" radiating out from a central disk in the manner of sunbeams. Sometimes part of a sunburst, a semicircular or semi-elliptical shape, is used...
motif to the Rose windowRose windowA Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
in the South Transept. - YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, St Martin-cum-Gregory. Memorial window to his daughters. - YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
City Art Gallery. Several examples of his work.
Rest of England
- BinleyBinley, CoventryBinley is a suburb in the east of Coventry, England. Binley evolved from a small mining village on the outskirts of Coventry to a large residential area composing private residences and council-owned properties....
, St Bartholomew. The east window is of the Virgin and Child. - CambridgeCambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Trinity CollegeTrinity College, CambridgeTrinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
library. The Alma Mater window on the south side of the library. The window shows an allegorical scene of Sir Isaac Newton being presented by the Muse of the College to King George III with Francis Bacon looking on. It was designed by Giovanni Battista CiprianiGiovanni Battista CiprianiGiovanni Battista Cipriani , Italian painter and engraver, Pistoiese by descent, was born in Florence.-History:His first lessons were given him by a Florentine of English descent, Ignatius Hugford, and then under Anton Domenico Gabbiani...
. 1771. - Cambridgeshire, Hinchingbrooke HouseHinchingbrooke HouseHinchingbrooke House in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was built around an 11th century nunnery. After the Reformation it passed into the hands of the Cromwell family, and subsequently, became the home of the Earls of Sandwich, including John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, reputedly the "inventor" of...
. Armorial window. - Essex, Audley End HouseAudley End HouseAudley End House is largely an early 17th-century country house just outside Saffron Walden, Essex, south of Cambridge, England. It was once a palace in all but name and renowned as one of the finest Jacobean houses in England. Audley End is now only one-third of its original size, but is still...
. Window of Last supper. - Gloustershire, MatsonMatson, Gloucester- History :Unlike neighbouring villages, such as Brookthorpe and Upton St Leonards, Matson is not mentioned in the Domesday Book. It appears to have been a part of Kings Barton at the time of the survey...
House. Window with three panels in the Oratory, depicting the figures of 2 friars and a nun. 1785. - Lincoln CathedralLincoln CathedralLincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
. North end of the North East Transept. 1762 - London, Strawberry HillStrawberry Hill HouseStrawberry Hill is the Gothic Revival villa of Horace Walpole which he built in the second half of the 18th century in what is now an affluent area of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Twickenham, London...
. Two cycles of armorial windows for the Gallery in a painted and enameled mosaic setting (1762)and the Great North Bedchamber set in clear glass with coloured glass frames (1772). - ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
- St AnnSt Ann's Church, ManchesterSt Ann's Church, Manchester, was consecrated in 1712. Although named after St Anne, it also pays tribute to the patron of the church, Ann, Lady Bland. St Ann's Church is a Grade I listed building.-Architecture and setting:...
. Window of apostle in the north aisle. - Norfolk, Holkham HallHolkham HallHolkham Hall is an eighteenth-century country house located adjacent to the village of Holkham, on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk...
. Window with coat of arms. 1769. - OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Oriel College. Window in the chapel of The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. It was originally in the east window but is now in the south. 1767. - OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, New CollegeNew College, OxfordNew College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. Windows of apostles and saints on the north side of the chancel.