Study No. 2 for Miró

Artist James Scanlon (b. 1952)

Date1985

MediumStained glass

Dimensions52 x 27 cm

ClassificationsStained Glass

Credit LineCollection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery. Donated by the Irish Contemporary Art Society, 1986. © James Scanlon.

Object number1696

DescriptionScanlon studied sculpture and film before embarking on a self-taught stained glass apprenticeship from 1978-81, culminating in the establishment of his own glass studio. Like Harry Clarke before him, he has striven to revive stained glass making, attracting international acclaim for his work.

Study No 2 for Miró, an early piece, recalls medieval manuscripts with its intimate scale and intense, jewel-like colours but was, in fact, prompted by Miro's 'Constellations' series which demonstrated to Scanlon the great impact small-scale works could make. Contemporary in appearance, it derives in fact from traditional techniques, whereby multiple layers of coloured glass 'flashed' together are etched to remove specific areas, layer by layer. The masterfully precise craftsmanship reveals the rich palette of hues inherent in the combined layers, and panels of etched glass are sometimes superimposed, further extending the aesthetic possibilities. Working on a small scale Scanlon avoids the need for the supporting leads commonly found in stained glass.

This piece exemplifies the resulting luminosity and vibrant colour, here combining layers of red, blue, yellow and pink glass. A range of strikingly subtle effects is achieved, some colours flowing into one another as delicately as watercolours while others remain architectonically hard-edged.

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