DONORS WILLIAM AND MATILDA CELE

Brief description: Stained glass tracery light depicting an artist's impression of the donors, William and Matilda Cele, kneeling in prayer. Made in the 14th Century.

Stained glass tracery light depicts the donors, William and his wife Matilda Cele kneeling in prayer. The portrait in the tracery light is unlikely to be a true representation of the donors. Donor figures, like this couple kneeling in prayer in a tracery light, were depicted with increasing frequency in stained glass from the middle of the 13th century. By the end of the Middle Ages their 'portraits', rarely drawn from life, were often given considerable visual prominence, sometimes occupying the same visual space as the sacred figures depicted. Nothing is known of the lives of the Celes, although their donation of stained glass has ensured that their names are still remembered centuries after their deaths. This panel is said to have come from a Suffolk parish church and is a fine example of glass-painting in the later 14th century.

Object type: stained glass panel

Number of objects: 1

Production date: 1

Production period: 14th century

Manufacturer: English Artist

Dimensions: Height: 570 mm, Width: 540 mm

Inscription: William and his wife Matilda bottom of light 'Villms cele et matilda uxor ei'

Acquisition: loan 2007

Acquisition source: Victoria and Albert Museum London

Accession number: ELYGM:L2004.2