Henry Gyles
Encyclopedia
Henry Gyles or Giles was an English glass painter based in York
He was the fifth child of E[dmund?] Gyles, and resided in Micklegate
, York. To him is due the revival of the art of pictorial glass painting, which had become quite extinct in England. His earliest dated window (1682) is the large west window of York Guildhall at York. His best known work is the east window in the chapel of University College, Oxford
, presented by Dr. Radcliffe in 1687. Gyles also presented some stained glass for the hall of University College, and did works for Wadham College, Oxford
, and also for Trinity College and St. Catharine's Hall at Cambridge
. In 1700 he painted a large window for Lord Fairfax at Denton, Yorkshire. There were some figures painted by Gyles in the grammar school
at Leeds, but these were disposed of in 1784 to a local antiquary.
Gyles was a friend and correspondent of Ralph Thoresby
, the antiquary, whose diary and correspondence contain frequent allusions to him.
His declining years were marred by ill-health, discontent, and domestic dissensions. In October 1709 he died at his house in York, and was buried in the church of St. Martin-cum-Gregory. Gyles was not particularly successful in colour or design, and little of his work can now be appreciated, owing to the perishable enamels which he employed.
[Francis Place (artist)|Francis Place]], Gyles's friend and fellow-citizen, engraved his portrait in mezzotint (copied by W. Richardson, and again for Walpole's 'Anecdotes of Painting'), and there is an interesting crayon drawing of him by his own hand in the print room at the British Museum
.
He also has some works at York Art Gallery
.
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
He was the fifth child of E[dmund?] Gyles, and resided in Micklegate
Micklegate
Micklegate is a street in the City of York, England. The name means "Great Street", "Gate" coming from the Old Norse gata, or street. Micklegate lies on the Western side of the River Ouse, Yorkshire, and holds the southern entrance into the city, Micklegate Bar, through which many monarchs have...
, York. To him is due the revival of the art of pictorial glass painting, which had become quite extinct in England. His earliest dated window (1682) is the large west window of York Guildhall at York. His best known work is the east window in the chapel of University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, presented by Dr. Radcliffe in 1687. Gyles also presented some stained glass for the hall of University College, and did works for Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
, and also for Trinity College and St. Catharine's Hall at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. In 1700 he painted a large window for Lord Fairfax at Denton, Yorkshire. There were some figures painted by Gyles in the grammar school
Leeds Grammar School
Leeds Grammar School was an independent school in Leeds established in 1552. In August 2005 it merged with Leeds Girls' High School to form The Grammar School at Leeds. The two schools physically united in September 2008....
at Leeds, but these were disposed of in 1784 to a local antiquary.
Gyles was a friend and correspondent of Ralph Thoresby
Ralph Thoresby
Ralph Thoresby , born in Leeds and is widely credited with being the first historian of that city. He was besides a merchant, non-conformist, fellow of the Royal Society, diarist, author, common-councilman in the Corporation of Leeds, and museum keeper.-Upbringing:Ralph Thoresby was the son of John...
, the antiquary, whose diary and correspondence contain frequent allusions to him.
His declining years were marred by ill-health, discontent, and domestic dissensions. In October 1709 he died at his house in York, and was buried in the church of St. Martin-cum-Gregory. Gyles was not particularly successful in colour or design, and little of his work can now be appreciated, owing to the perishable enamels which he employed.
[Francis Place (artist)|Francis Place]], Gyles's friend and fellow-citizen, engraved his portrait in mezzotint (copied by W. Richardson, and again for Walpole's 'Anecdotes of Painting'), and there is an interesting crayon drawing of him by his own hand in the print room at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
He also has some works at York Art Gallery
York Art Gallery
thumb|right|York Art Gallery and statue of William Etty, by Stanley HoweYork Art Gallery in York, North Yorkshire, England is a public art gallery with a collection of paintings, from 14th century to contemporary, and 20th-century ceramics...
.