Brief description: Design for a stained glass window depicting Christian, the protagonist of John Bunyan's 1678 novel The Pilgrim's Progress. Designed at the Goddard and Gibbs studio, London
The Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory, following the protagonist, a sinful man named Christian, as he goes on a journey through his faith. Here, Christian has reached the Wicket Gate, the end of the first part of his journey. He is greeted by the gatekeeper, Goodwill, who is later revealed to be Jesus Christ. In the book, as here, the gate bears an inscription from Matthew 7:7: 'Knock, and it shall be opened unto thee'. Christian is depicted, in beautifully painted watercolours, as wearing a red jacket, brown trousers, and a rock, the burden representing his sin, strapped to his back. Goodwill is portrayed as an elderly man in a green robe, as he helps Christian over the threshold. There is space for an inscription at the bottom. Design 'B' for F Gale at the Baptist Chapel, Bedford. Goddard & Gibbs, founded from a merger of Walter Gibbs & Sons and Goddard's Glass Works in 1938, were prominent makers of stained glass for the international market and also conserved and restored glass.
Object type: preparatory artworks design
Number of objects: 1
Production date: 1
Production period: 20th century
Manufacturer: Goddard and Gibbs
Dimensions: Height: 205 mm, Width: 155 mm
Inscription: KNOCK AND IT / SHALL BE OPENED / UNTO THEE
Original location: Hazelmere Parish Church, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire England
Acquisition: gift 18.3.2025
Acquisition source: Ratcliffe, S
This item is not currently on display and can only be viewed by prior arrangement
Accession number: ELYGM:2025.4.25
