A large stained glass window by a pupil of Evie Hone is one of the most interesting lots in Whyte's Irish Art Auction which takes place on Sunday, April 27th.
The window, which consists of two pairs of two-light windows, was executed by Patrick Pollen in 1953, the year they were commissioned by the Vincentians for their St Vincent de Paul church in Solly Street, Sheffield.
This large window, which is nearly six and a half feet across and 14 feet in height, was installed in the church to commemorate its centenary in 1853.
It depicts the Virgin Mary and Christ of the Sacred Heart in the centre flanked on either side by St Patrick and St Vincent de Paul. Underneath these standing figures are from left to right St Brigid, St Catherine Labouré, Ste Marguerite-Marie Alacoque and a Vincentian nun all kneeling.
Patrick Pollen, who was born in 1928, is a relative of the J Hungerford Pollen who designed University Church on Dublin's St Stephen's Green. He trained as an artist at the Slade in London, followed by a stint in the Academie Julien in Paris.
In 1952 he saw Evie Hone's stained glass windows at Eton College Chapel and was so impressed by them that he came to Dublin to learn from her. Her influence on him was very strong in his earlier works, to the extent that this present window was attributed to Evie Hone, when it was sold after the demolition of the Solly Street church a few years ago to a private collector in England. From there it went to France to the Galerie Madaba and thence to Dublin for this sale.
The window is characterised by rich colouring, in particular, red, green, blue and white, with luminous background blues and yellows. The stained glass is strongly painted.
This beautiful piece is for sale with an estimate of €10,000- €12,000 and it would be nice to see it installed again in a church setting - alternatively, maybe someone would buy it for the St Vincent de Paul Society in Dublin.