Paul Woodroffe
Encyclopedia
Paul Vincent Woodroffe was a British
book illustrator and stained-glass artist.
Paul Woodroffe was born in Madras (present-day Chennai
) and as a young man in London in the 1890s he took up book illustration and then stained glass, and worked with books and windows for the rest of his life. He studied at Stonyhurst College
, the Jesuit school in Lancashire, going on to the Slade School of Fine Art
in Bloomsbury
. A devout Roman Catholic, he did a great deal of work in illustrations and stained glass from this fact. He lived on the edge of Chipping Campden
in the Cotswolds
from 1904 to 1935.
Woodroffe was a prolific illustrator. His work included illustrations of Shakespeare,, Bible stories, children's books , and illustrations of Roman history .
Woodroffe's illustrations are characterised by a stunning blend of line, form and colour typical of the Pre-Raphaelites. Many of his characters are reminiscent of the marbles
of Roman and Greek antiquity. The colours he used were rich and the images powerful.
He was also a prolific stained-glass artist and was a pupil of Christopher Whall
. His most notable work was perhaps the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
. One of his more unusual commissions was to design windows for the private attic chapel of the American
actress Mary Anderson
, who settled in Court Farm, Worcestershire after enormous success on the London stage in the 1880s.
,
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
, Stonyhurst College
and the following churches:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
book illustrator and stained-glass artist.
Paul Woodroffe was born in Madras (present-day Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
) and as a young man in London in the 1890s he took up book illustration and then stained glass, and worked with books and windows for the rest of his life. He studied at Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
, the Jesuit school in Lancashire, going on to the Slade School of Fine Art
Slade School of Fine Art
The Slade School of Fine Art is a world-renownedart school in London, United Kingdom, and a department of University College London...
in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
. A devout Roman Catholic, he did a great deal of work in illustrations and stained glass from this fact. He lived on the edge of Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century...
in the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
from 1904 to 1935.
Woodroffe was a prolific illustrator. His work included illustrations of Shakespeare,, Bible stories, children's books , and illustrations of Roman history .
Woodroffe's illustrations are characterised by a stunning blend of line, form and colour typical of the Pre-Raphaelites. Many of his characters are reminiscent of the marbles
of Roman and Greek antiquity. The colours he used were rich and the images powerful.
He was also a prolific stained-glass artist and was a pupil of Christopher Whall
Christopher Whall
Christopher Whitworth Whall was an English stained glass artist who worked from 1897 into the 20th century.He was an important member of the Arts and Crafts Movement, who became a leading designer of stained glass. His most important work is the glass for the Lady Chapel in Gloucester Cathedral...
. His most notable work was perhaps the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
. One of his more unusual commissions was to design windows for the private attic chapel of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress Mary Anderson
Mary Anderson (stage actress)
Mary Anderson was an American stage actress.-Early life:...
, who settled in Court Farm, Worcestershire after enormous success on the London stage in the 1880s.
Stained glass by Woodroffe
Paul Woodroffe's stained glass can be found at the following sites: Woolstaplers' Hall, High Street, Chipping CampdenChipping Campden
Chipping Campden is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century...
,
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire was opened in 1899. It offers free admission, and has a programme of special exhibitions....
, Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
and the following churches:
- St John's Roman Catholic church, Alton, StaffordshireAlton, StaffordshireAlton is a village in the county of Staffordshire, England. It is noted for the theme park Alton Towers, built around the site of Alton Mansion , which was owned by the Earls of Shrewsbury and designed by Augustus Pugin....
- Holy Trinity, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk
- St Catharine's Roman Catholic church, Chipping CampdenChipping CampdenChipping Campden is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century...
- The Holy Name of Jesus, ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
- St Dunstan's, Cranbrook, KentCranbrook, KentCranbrook is a small town in Kent in South East England which was granted a charter in 1290 by Archbishop Peckham, allowing it to hold a market in the High Street. Located on the Maidstone to Hastings road, it is five miles north of Hawkhurst. The smaller settlements of Swattenden, Colliers...
- St Lawrence's, EveshamSt Lawrence's Church, EveshamSt Lawrence's Church, Evesham, is a redundant Anglican church in the centre of the town of Evesham, Worcestershire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust...
, Worcestershire - Our Lady of Compassion Roman Catholic church, FormbyFormbyFormby is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It has a population of approximately 25,000....
, Lancashire - St Mary's, Edith WestonEdith WestonEdith Weston is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is on the south-eastern shore of Rutland Water and is home of the main sailing club with a fishing lodge....
, Rutland - St Matthew's, Sutton BridgeSutton BridgeSutton Bridge is a village and civil parish in southeastern Lincolnshire, England on the west bank of the River Nene in the district of South Holland.-Geography:...
, Lincolnshire - SS Mary and Michael's, Great Urswick, Cumbria
- St Mary's, Uttoxeter
- St Andrew's, West Kensington, London
- Holy Trinity, Hadley, ShropshireHadley, ShropshireHadley is a part of the new town of Telford in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It lies approximately 5 miles north-west of Telford Town Centre, and is registered under the parish of Hadley and Leegomery...
- St John's Roman Catholic church, Trowbridge, Wiltshire
- Our Lady and St. Peter Roman Catholic church, Leatherhead
- St Mary's, Goudhurst, Kent
See also
- Photos of Woodroffe's stained glass and book illustrations at the Court Barn Website http://www.courtbarn.org.uk/woodroffe