1845-04-21 Bigelow Chapel Stained Glass: Ballantine & Allan to Jacob Bigelow, 1831.041.001-002

42 George Street Edinburgh

21st April 1845

Jacob Bigelow Esq M D

Sir

In accordance with the desire of Mr Hay, whose opinion you had requested, as to the most advisable mode, of colouring the Glass for the Windows of the Auburn Cemetry [sic] Chapel, we now enclose you, a series of designs, together with estimates for the execution of the work, and shall feel happy if they meet your approval..

Our experience in Glass Painting has been considerable. We have studied carefully the best specimens of the Antique, in this country and on the Continent, and feel confident, that we can now produce windows, equally durable & brilliant, with the best of those specimens, and more in accordance with the principle of harmony in form and colour.

Our designs and specimens, for the windows of the New House of Lords, at Westminster, have been approved of by the Royal Commission on the Fine Arts, and we are anxious to extend our reputation still further. We have therefore prepared the following Estimates, at the lowest remunerating rates, and should feel exceedingly delighted, to have the honour, and the advantage, through your means, of sending a specimen of our Art to your interesting country.-- You are no doubt aware that it is impossible to convey by a water coloured drawing, any idea of the effect of such designs, when properly executed in Glass, and ^that^ any attempt to transmit in writing instructions in Glass Painting is useless for any practical purpose.--

We may state that our Painted Glass is not executed on large Sheets, but like that of the Ancients is a species of Mosaic work -- For example, the central compartment of the Rose window, would be composed of upwards of one thousand separate pieces of Glass, the colour of which is in the body of the material, not merely fused on the surface -- This mode produces the most brilliant effect, is much stronger than any other and when any repair is required small pieces are easily inserted

(Should

Should you entrust the work to our care, we should guarantee that all the coloured glasses should be of the very finest quality, and that the workmanship should be equal to any other in Ancient or Modern Painted Glass. The pannels could be forwarded together with plans & written instructions, such as would enable any common Glazier to put them in -- Especial care would be taken that the Glass was packed in a way to warrant its safety -- Vessels leave Greenock every month for New York, the carriage would not form an important item and we could have the entire work finished within six or eight months from the time of its commencement.

Should you resolve upon employing us, it would ensure correctness if you would forward pasteboard or paper shapes, the exact daylight sizes of the various compartments. These templets or shapes must be numbered, and your lithograph drawings numbered to correspond -- The shapes of the long perpendicular compartments would only be required above the springs of the Arches with the exact length of the compartments below the springs of Arches marked --

We have only to add that Mr Hay has been consulted in the general arrangement and details of the designs, that he has expressed his unqualified approbation of both, and that should you honour us with an order to execute the work, our chief aim would be to render the Painted Glass Windows of your Chapel interesting and attractive -- We have the honour to be

Sir

Your obedient Servants

Ballantine & Allan

Estimate for Painted Glass for the Windows of Auburn Cemetry Chapel.

Great Nave Window

Four large compartments to be filled with Glass (as indicated at No 1 and 2 on the drawing) consisting of Geometric figures, bands and [patreas?], of colour, with foliated & chequered backgrounds, in the style of the 13^"th Century - Grand Central Hemicircled space to be occupied with a Representation of the Resurrection, enclosed by circular border of Gold and hemi-circles filled in with foliated ornament and grounds of positive colour, as indicated in sketch.

Two Large dexter and sinister top shapes to be occupied with Cherubim and foliated ornament also in positive colours as indicated in sketch.

The Five other hemi-circular spaces to have the monograms [drawing: Greek symbol Chi Ro] (Greek for Jesus Christ) and [drawing: Greek symbols] (Alpha & Omega) on shields surrounded with borders & foliated ornament - the other top shapes to be filled in as indicated in sketch No 4 & 5 This entire Window executed according to the above specification would cost One Hundred Pounds Sterling. --

Great Rose Window

Grand hemi-circled space to be occupied with a Representation of the Ascension - Twelve compartments to be filled in with Early English foliated ornament, and grounds of positive colour, as indicated in sketch compartments No 1 & 2, or with Mosaics as indicated in compartment No 3 - Twelve hemi-circled spaces to be occupied with heads of the twelve Apostles enclosed in circular borders of Gold colour as indicated No 4-5 & 6, the hemi-circular spaces together with the triangular curved outer compartments to be filled in

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with

with foliage and grounds of positive colour as indicated in sketch.

This Window finished in this style would cost One Hundred and thirty Pounds Sterling.

If instead of the Twelve Apostles in the outer hemi-circled spaces, the design indicated in the spaces No 7 and 8 were adopted the expense would be reduced Fifteen Pounds sterling.

Aisle Windows

The Four Aisle Windows finished in a similar style to that indicated in sketch, but with the designs & figures diversified sufficiently would cost Twenty Pounds sterling each.

If the expense of these latter renders such elaborate treatment objectionable, they might be filled with some simpler design which could be rendered very effective at one half the price or about Ten Pounds sterling each.__

Ballantine & Allan