BACKGROUND: Sacred Heart Church in Sacramento, California contains a full series of windows by Harry Clarke. Born and raised in Ireland, Clarke was known as both a prominent stained glass artist and illustrator. Often associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement, Clarke's work also shows influences from Art Nouveau His elongated, elegant figures, use of flashed glass, acid etching, and thick, black grisaille set his work apart.
CONDITION: There was a layer of grime across the surface of the panels as well as inside portions of the tiered sections. Several cracks and small losses were noted, mainly along the bottom portion of the rectangular windows and rounded portions of the arched transom lights. The paint was found to be in stable condition. The lead was exhibiting fatigue around the joints, missing in portions, and there was a loss of putty from inside the came channel.
TREATMENT: Prior to disassembly, dual rubbings were taken of the panels, including a set on vellum for archival purposes. The panels were disassembled in a water tank and the glass was gently cleaned with water and a soft, natural bristle brush. Broken pieces of glass were repaired using Hxtal Nyl-1 epoxy. Tiered pieces were sealed with copper foil (not soldered) along the edges to minimize the infiltration of moisture and dirt. Each panel was releaded and hand puttied prior to being reinstalled.
panel 20A1, BT
panel 20A1, AT
arched "LS" panel, BT
arched "LS" panel, AT
St. Francis Panel, AT
