The Crucifixion with Soldiers

Photo © Martin Crampin larger image

1916 Three-light window. Christ is depicted on the cross with two soldiers below, one kneeling in the left-hand light, and another lies dead or injured in the right-hand light. technique: stained glass firm/studio: J. Wippell & Co. Ltd Church of St Sannan, Bedwellty, Caerphilly north wall of the north nave Unveiled 24 December 1916. Given in memory of the surgeon Dr John Clarke by his friends and members of the Rhymney Valley Medical Association. The composition closely recalls James Clark's painting The Great Sacrifice of 1914, which Clark himself interpreted in stained glass. Could Clark also have designed this window too? There are differences in execution between this work and Clark's version in Mountain Ash, but Wippell's often used freelance designers at the time. It is also possible that another designer made liberal use of Clark's famous engraving of the work, distributed in The Graphic. This window includes the depiction of a second soldier in the left-hand light, Sgt William John Haskoll, of the First Monmouthshire Regiment, who died while on active service in 1915.  (ObjectID=4164 ImageID=7826) Original File Name=Bedwellty_DSC8387A.jpg

This artwork is indexed under the following main subject(s):
for other works containing these subjects please click on the links.

• Crucified Christ suffering (with crown of thorns)  [Matthew 27:33-58; Mark 15:22-45; Luke 23:33-52; John 19:17-38]
• the soldier; the soldier's life 

Martin Crampin, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014), pp. 200-1.

John Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire (London/Cardiff: 2000), p. 118.

Photo © Martin Crampin