From Left to Right: King Henry II, Emperor of Germany (with model of Bamberg Cathedral)? Unknown Antique glass, Silver Oxide, Oxide Paint Early 20th Century Bishop (St. Peter or St. Martin) holding a Church? Unknown Antique glass, Silver Oxide, Oxide Paint Early 20th Century

Although the provenance of these windows is unknown, given their condition in the 1980’s when they were acquired by Esser Studio (from whom Oakbrook-Esser Studio later obtained them), it seems likely that they were produced somewhere around the turn of the century. This approximate date is consistent with the use of Antique colored glass as well as the heavy painting of the glass which was popular at this time. Both the import of so-called “Munich-style” stained glass to the United States and the presence of numerous workshops producing stained glass windows in that style within the United States around the turn of the century make it difficult to determine whether these windows are European or American in origin. In either case, Munich seems to be the most likely origin of the artist, and the extensive use of stenciling in the area around the figures may indicate that he was working in the United States.

According to George Ferguson’s Signs and Symbols in Christian Art, “a church placed in the hands of a saint signifies that he was the founder of a particular church or was its first bishop” (163). This pictorial tradition has a long history in Christian art that can be traced to the circa 545 AD depiction of the Bishop Ecclesius presenting a model of San Vitale to Christ in the apse mosaic of that same church at Ravenna. An exact identification of the two figures is, however, as impossible to determine as provenance. Both King Henry II, Emperor of Germany and King Stephen of Hungary founded numerous sees and monasteries and were later canonized as saints. Further, either of these figures would have been likely subjects for windows commissioned by any of the numerous German or Bohemian congregations that were being constructed in the area around St. Louis (where they were originally acquired) at the suggested time of production for the windows. However, King Henry II, Emperor of Germany, who is traditionally portrayed crowned, with a sword, and holding a model of the Bamberg cathedral is the most likely choice. Given the uncanny resemblance of the church model in the window to the eastern exterior elevation of the Bamberg cathedral (although there are minor discrepancies), this identification seems solid. However, King Stephen of Hungary (975-1038) remains a possibility. Immediately after he was crowned by the first Archbishop of Hungary in 1001, King Stephen immediately completed a cathedral dedicated to St. Martin begun by his father.

The identity of the bishop is more difficult to determine. One possible candidate is St. Martin of Tours who shares a connection with the Benedictine order and a birthplace in Hungary that might indirectly connect him with King Stephen of Hungary. However, the other possibility is St. Peter. This is a more generic figure who could readily be associated with either king, but is a particularly nice fit with King Henry II and the cathedral of Bamberg given that St. Peter is one of its dedicatory saints.

April Woods

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