Lot 51 EVIE HONE HRHA (1894 - 1955)
Title: Cubist Composition Study for a Stained Glass Window (1933)
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Signature: Signed lower right
Provenance: The Dawson Gallery (Label Verso); Private Collection
Framed
Description
This stained glass window design by Evie Hone is a stunning work on paper that illuminates the artist’s visionary approach to liturgical art. Composed in watercolour and gouache, the design is essentially a full-colour cartoon (preparatory drawing) for a stained glass window, and it vibrates with jewel-like hues and spiritual symbolism. In the design, Hone arranges an intricate tapestry of geometric shapes and sacred figures within the tall, arched format of a church window. Rich blues, reds, and golds dominate the palette, separated by bold lead-line tracery drawn in pencil or ink, which divides the composition into panels and medallions in the Gothic manner. One can discern perhaps a central religious scene – for example, a saint or biblical tableau – rendered in a semi-abstract, cubist-influenced style that retains clarity of narrative. Surrounding this central image might be smaller decorative or figurative elements: angels, heraldic emblems, or floral motifs, each harmoniously integrated into the overall scheme. Although executed on paper, Hone’s brushstrokes mimic the glowing translucence of stained glass: areas of colour are layered and modulated to suggest how light would filter through glass of varying thickness and tint. As a signed piece, this design is not only a work of art in its own right but also an insight into Hone’s creative process – a rare and beautiful blueprint for the luminous spiritual works that would eventually grace architectural spaces.
Biography
Evie Hone (1894-1955) was a pioneering figure in Irish modernism and a leading force in the 20th-century revival of stained glass. Born into an Anglo-Irish family, she overcame the challenges of childhood illness to pursue an artistic path with great resolve. In the early part of her career, she studied in Paris, where she was influenced by modernist ideas and Cubist theories of form and colour.
Upon returning to Ireland, Hone brought these avant-garde influences to bear on religious and symbolic subjects, becoming one of the foremost stained glass artists of her generation. While her early contributions to painting and exhibition culture helped shape modern Irish art, it was through her stained glass windows—found in churches and public buildings both in Ireland and abroad—that she left her most enduring mark.
Her work is distinguished by vibrant, harmoniously balanced colour and bold, expressive linework. Designs such as Stained Glass Window Design (Cubitt) reflect her ability to unite spiritual themes with modern abstraction. Though most of her creative output was realized in glass, her preparatory drawings remain rare and highly regarded for the insight they offer into her working process. Hone's legacy lies in her remarkable synthesis of tradition and innovation, and in the distinct visual language she brought to sacred art.
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