15th July 2022 by Frances
David Hockney
Walking in…
David Hockney The Queen’s Window, 2018, stained glass, 8.8m high, 2.9m wide. North Transept, Westminster Abbey, SW1 .
Commissioned by the Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, to celebrate the Queen’s reign as the UK’s longest serving monarch. Hockney was chosen because he is ‘such a celebrated and imaginative artist and known and loved so widely.’ The brief was to provide something symbolic or representational, rather than heraldic or figurative. Hockney had never worked in stained glass before, he looked at Matisse and Chagall’s stained-glass for inspiration. The previous 19th century window here was just clear glass, when Hockney was shown the window he was ‘immediately interested in colours.’ Although he said he could do nothing for six months, two days later he sent the Dean an iPad sketch which the Dean described as ‘wonderful’. The iPad was a natural design tool for the project, because, like stained-glass it is back-lit.
The sketch was inspired by Hockney’s native Yorkshire landscape, in particular the hawthorn blossom in Spring, painted in his distinct vibrant colour palette. Describing the hawthorn, Hockney said it is like ‘champagne has been poured over everything. It’s fabulous.’ It also reflects the celebratory nature of the window and Queen Elizabeth II’s interest and delight in the countryside. Hockney sited Van Gogh as a kindred spirit who saw ‘nature as a much more powerful force than he was. Well it is. God is in nature.’
The sketch was interpreted into the window design by Barley Studio in York, who said it needed to be ‘recognisably Hockney’ and ‘structurally sound.’ The stained glass pieces are pure colour, the palette was taken from existing glass samples with the addition of a red and pink, made specifically for this commission. The only additional painting is the Hockney Studio signature. This piece of glass was flown to LA to be signed, then flown back to be fired. Hockney has lived in California for most of his adult life although he said he feels ‘deeply English.’ It is a bold, modern design, celebratory without reverting to Royal or Religious imagery. Hockney said ‘I’m proud of the window. It looks terrific in there…it’s because of the colour.’ ‘I think it’s looking marvellous’.
This marvellous window can be glimpsed freely from the exterior, but to experience the window fully from the interior, it is paid ticketed entry. Westminster Abbey is between number 7, St. Margaret’s Church and number 8, 55 Broadway on the Violet Walk.
(photo of ‘The Queen’s Window’ David Hockney, 2018, stained glass, detail)
