Alfred Godwin

Godwin advertisement, 1892

Alfred Godwin (1850 – 1934) was an English-born stained-glass artist, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Career

Godwin received his training in stained-and-leaded glass making in England, and emigrated to the United States in 1874. He opened his own shop in Philadelphia in 1878, and entered into a partnership with Wilhelm Reith – "Alfred Godwin & Company" – in 1883. An 1891 advertisement lists their shop at 1325 Market Street, Philadelphia. He was part of the short-lived "Association of Art Workers" (1893-1895), a team of Philadelphia artisans, furniture-makers and decorators who could collaborate on multiple aspects of a design project.[1] This was similar to Louis Comfort Tiffany's collaboration, "Associated American Artists."

Godwin exhibited four stained glass windows at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair: Angel of the Annunciation, Virgin Mary, Knights in Armor, Angel Gabriel.[2]

Plate from the Alfred Godwin & Co. Catalogue, c. 1891

Alfred Godwin & Company designed the stained-and-leaded glass for the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, at 200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia.[3] This was the grandest hotel in the city, and hotelier George Boldt's brain-child and masterpiece. Many of Godwin windows were removed and sold during renovations in the 1940's and 1950's. Twelve of his original transoms survive along the building's Broad Street facade. Several of his sky-lights and one Venetian window also are extant. The second Venetian window (of a nymph dancing), which graced the former North/Main Staircase, disappeared during renovations in the 1980s. One of his sky-lights is located north of the lobby, in the Starbucks Coffee Shop on the Walnut Street side.

Godwin designed most of the stained-and-leaded glass for the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:

The Capitol's green and gold hemispheric opalescent glass dome in the Supreme Court Chamber was created by Alfred Godwin of Philadelphia. Godwin emigrated from England in 1874 where he had received his training in stained glass. In 1891 he ran an advertisement in the directory listing his shop address at 1325 Market Street, Philadelphia. He also produced windows for several churches including the former Presbyterian Church on Market Square in Philadelphia. It is surmised that Godwin also created the ochre stained glass windows in the rotunda's upper dome, the light court skylights, the light court lunette openings on the Capitol's fifth floor, and the decorative ceiling glass in the House and Senate galleries. All of the glasswork in these areas, along with the leaded glass skylights on the fourth floor are indicative of Godwin's style of work.[4]

1886 business profile

Alfred Godwin & Co., Stained Glass, No 1201 Market Street.—The steady and growing demand for artistic productions in stained glass that has within recent years been so noticeable in the united States has imparted to this interesting branch of business an importance which at any period hitherto did not attach to it in this country. Among the foremost concerns engaged in this line in the city is the well-known and successful firm of Alfred Godwin & co., No. 1201 Market Street, than whom no one in the business in Philadelphia has been more fortunate in establishing and maintaining a reputation for a high standard of excellence in the work produced. All kinds of stained glass for churches and dwellings are turned out in the most excellent and artistic manner and designs that experience, skill and art can accomplish. Domestic work, in which line they are unsurpassed, is made a specialty. Designs and estimates are furnished on application, and everything is done to render the utmost satisfaction to patrons. The business was established in 1878 by Mr. Godwin, who conducted it alone up to 1883, when he admitted into partnership Mr. Wm. Reith, thus constituting the firm of Alfred Godwin & Co., who have since continued it with such eminent success. The trade, already exceedingly heavy, extends all over the United States and Mexico, and steadily increases. The premises occupied are spacious and commodious, comprising three floors, 25 x 125 feet in dimensions, where a fine line of examples of their work is open to public view. Mr. Godwin is a native of Manchester, England, and has resided in Philadelphia since 1870, and Mr. Reith was born in Munich, Bavaria, a city and a country that have contributed more to art and science, perhaps, than any in the world. Both are men of unmistakeable energy, enterprise and ability, and that they are masters of their art is amply attested by the positive and permanent success they have achieved.[5]

Legacy

Godwin published at least three illustrated catalogues: Stained Glass, Alfred Godwin & Co., 1201 Market Street, Phila (c.1883-85); a circa-1891 catalogue; and Examples of Stained Glass Windows for Ecclesiastical and Domestic Purposes Recently Executed by Alfred Godwin (1895)

Among the artists employed by Alfred Godwin & Company were Thomas G. Aickin, William Willet, R. Appleby Miller, Frederick Wilson and Horace Rudy.[6]

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia holds a collection of Godwin's sketches.[7]

Selected works

Lunette window over altar (1886), Old St. Joseph's Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Venetian Window (1904), Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia.
Supreme Court Chamber dome (1906), Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg.
The Battle of the Lilies and the Roses (1910), Fairacres, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

References

  1. ↑ Mark C. Luellen, The Decorative Work of George Herzog, 1851-1920, masters thesis, University of Pennsylvania, 1992, p. 51.
  2. ↑ James H. Lambert, The Story of Pennsylvania at World's Fair St. Louis, 1904 (Pennsylvania Commission, 1905), pp. 54, 338.
  3. ↑ The Architectural Record, vol. 17 (January 1905), p. 270.
  4. ↑ Alfred Godwin, from Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee.
  5. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical Review, City of Philadelphia. Leading Merchants and Manufacturers (Historical Publishing Company, 1886), p. 169.
  6. ↑ Diane C. Wright, "Frederick Wilson: 50 Years of Stained Glass Design," Journal of Glass Studies (Corning Museum of Glass, 2009), pp. 198-203.
  7. ↑ Alfred Godwin, from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings.
  8. ↑ Alfred Godwin (1850-1934), Philadelphia, from Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
  9. ↑ "Francis A. Drexel Bequest", from Old St. Joseph's Church.
  10. ↑ President Grant Window, from Peter Lucia.
  11. ↑ Mahoning Presbyterian Church, from Museum of American Glass.
  12. ↑ Beaver Memorial Church, from Museum of American Glass.
  13. ↑ Memorial Chapel of the Resurrection, from rootsweb.
  14. ↑ Edward Y. Smith, Jr., A Window into the Past; A Legacy for the Future (Christ Church, Riverton, 1977).
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