[Camm Studios: Pre-Raphaelite Stained Glass Watercolor Design- Thomas William Camm, Camm Studios] 47-Part Watercolor Designs for Stained Glass Windows, by Camm Studios

Smethwick, 1880. Attractive large mounted watercolor panel consitsting of a total of 147 separate watercolor pieces over pencil with guache depicting Christ blessing two saints (or apostles), two children, and two women kneeling in prayer), designed by Camm Studios for stained glass windows. The faces are finely executed, and the layout is extremely well-balanced and please. Original Accession Number 9476, lower left, and again in pencil, lower right. Thomas William Camm (1839-1912), founder, chief artist/designer and manufacturer of stained glass in England, opened operation in 1865 as Camm Brothers in Smethwick, and later, "The Studio." Thomas Camm was one of the most accomplished stained glass designers of the period. The American architect Ralph Adams Cram wrote "at the present moment a large number of artists in England are producing work of most singular beauty and perfection. Amongst these I have no hesitation in placing Mr. Camm easily as the first". His daughter Florence Camm produced most of the artwork for the company after his death in 1912. The studio won medals in Paris in 1878, Sydney in 1879 and in Turin in 1911 and commissions came in from America, Spain, New Zealand and India. Dozens of churches, institutions and private homes in England still boast stained glass windows designed by Camm and his daugher. Near fine. Most scarce thus.