NATIVITY

Brief description: Panel (thought by the donor to be a student piece) depicting the Nativity by Francis Spear, 1923

This rectangular panel depicts a nativity scene with angels in the clouds above, appearing to the shepherds on the left, and the three magi following the star on the right. Below, Mary and Joseph are shown cradling the Christ child. This nativity panel was made and designed by Francis Spear (1902-1979) in 1923. The same year, Spear graduated from the London Central School of Art and Design which later merged to become Central St Martin's, University of the Arts, in Industrial Design, with a specialisation in stained glass. In 1922, while still a student, he had become pupil-assistant to the leading English practitioner of stained glass, Martin Travers (1886-1948), and continued to assist him until the Second World War. SpearÂ’s style was influenced by TraversÂ’ own work.

Object type: stained glass panel

Number of objects: 1

Production date: 1923

Production period: 20th century

Designer: Francis Spear (1902 - 1979)

Manufacturer: Spear, Francis

Dimensions: Height: 450 mm, Width: 730 mm

Acquisition: gift 21.8.2012

Acquisition source: Spear, Simon

Accession number: ELYGM:2012.4