The third in my photo-series is this beautiful stained glass window by Douglas Strachan in the old nave of Dunfermline Abbey.
It was commissioned in 1916 by the famous Dunfermline-born businessman Andrew Carnegie in memory of his parents, William Carnegie and Margaret Morrison.
The image symbolises the dawn of a new age, and features a red-robed poet or seer sitting on the ramparts of a ruined fortress, gazing over a city towards distant hills that are lit by the rays of sunrise. Above him, two female figures representing East and West are meeting in peace, beneath the encircling wings of an angel. A banner in gold script (about a third of the way down) reads: “The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”
The colours are stunning, blending richness with subtlety. The window is set within the wonderful architecture of David I’s 12th century abbey church.
You can read more about Dunfermline Abbey here on The Hazel Tree.
More information:
Photo copyright © Jo Woolf
19 Comments
bitaboutbritain
Wonderful! Love that Norman architecture.
Jo Woolf
Yes, a really stunning place!
Jim Rule
Beautiful!
Jo Woolf
Yes! The colours are magnificent, and what a setting as well.
bconee
Absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing. And greetings to you, Jo, from Andrew Carnegie’s other home, Pittsburgh, PA!
Jo Woolf
That’s wonderful!! Thanks so much for your comment – greetings back to you! 🙂
blosslyn
Douglas Strachan, I love his windows, I really must visit. Beautiful photo Jo 🙂 We got up as far as Dornoch this last trip and visited the lovely little cathedral, it has some wonderful windows.
Jo Woolf
Thanks, Lynne. Yes, you have found lots of Strachan’s windows yourself! His colours are amazing. Never been to Dornoch but it sounds lovely.
blosslyn
Dornoch and all the coast along that part of Scotland is beautiful. We went to meet a blogging friend there, she said I would like and she was right.
montucky
Wonderful piece of art!
Jo Woolf
Yes! I am really only beginning to appreciate the beauty and artistry in stained glass windows. The colours in this are just so beautiful.
Jim Rule
We could use a new dose of righteousness this figure symbolizes!
Jo Woolf
Yes – it struck me too, that the message is just as valid today!
joturner57
What a stunning conflation of exquisite stained glass design with a perennially resonant message…Thanks for sharing… Would love to visit and experience it with its scale and luminosity…
Jo Woolf
I know, well said, Jo! I shall have to look more closely at the other windows next time I visit. I was delighted to find the story behind this one. Dunfermline Abbey and Palace are magnificent. I’ve never seen anything quite like the interior of the nave, with those columns.
TalesOfAScottishLassie
Never actually been inside the abbey but walked around the graveyard and the arcitecture is really nice.
Jo Woolf
Yes, what an amazing building! Well worth going inside if you have a chance!
TalesOfAScottishLassie
Yeah I really need to is it open all the time for the public to go into?
Jo Woolf
Pretty much all the time – but looks like it’s closed Thursday & Fridays in winter. More info: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/dunfermline-abbey-and-palace/prices-and-opening-times/