Donald MacDonald (craftsman)
Encyclopedia
Donald MacDonald was an early stained glass
artist and craftsman of Boston
.
Donald MacDonald was born in Glasgow
and trained as a glass painter in London
during the 1860s. In 1868 he was urged to immigrate to America and join the studio of J. William McPherson & Co. in Boston. His skill and dedication to his craft made him sought after by progressive architects of the day. During the 1870s, he was a leading exponent of the British Design Reform Movement, creating alternatives to the conventional Gothic revival stained glass of the day. MacDonald took over the McPherson studio in 1888 and changed its name to his own.
, one in the entrance hall and another in the main hall. He also created a unique stained glass dome in the National Arts Club
in New York City
, a 19th century landmark building. In addition, he has several windows at windows at Dartmouth College
. He made the memorial window for President Bennet Tyler
, which depicts the Apostle Paul. He also is responsible to the President Nathan Lord
memorial window, depicting Moses
, as well as the President Asa Dodge Smith
memorial window. He also created and executed the main stained glass window above the chancel in the Arnot Memorial Chapel at Trinity Church
in Elmira, New York
.
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
artist and craftsman of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Donald MacDonald was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and trained as a glass painter in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the 1860s. In 1868 he was urged to immigrate to America and join the studio of J. William McPherson & Co. in Boston. His skill and dedication to his craft made him sought after by progressive architects of the day. During the 1870s, he was a leading exponent of the British Design Reform Movement, creating alternatives to the conventional Gothic revival stained glass of the day. MacDonald took over the McPherson studio in 1888 and changed its name to his own.
Works
Donald MacDonald has two windows in Harvard's Memorial HallMemorial Hall (Harvard University)
Memorial Hall is an imposing brick building in High Victorian Gothic style, located on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
, one in the entrance hall and another in the main hall. He also created a unique stained glass dome in the National Arts Club
National Arts Club
The National Arts Club is a private club in Gramercy Park, New York City, New York, USA. It was founded in 1898 to "stimulate, foster, and promote public interest in the arts and to educate the American people in the fine arts". Since 1906 the organization has occupied the Samuel J...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a 19th century landmark building. In addition, he has several windows at windows at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. He made the memorial window for President Bennet Tyler
Bennet Tyler
The Rev. Bennet Tyler was an American Congregational clergyman and educator. He served as president of Dartmouth College between 1822 and 1828.-Biography:...
, which depicts the Apostle Paul. He also is responsible to the President Nathan Lord
Nathan Lord
Nathan Lord was a U.S. Congregational clergyman and educator. His pro-slavery views, unusual in abolitionist New England, brought him notoriety during the American Civil War....
memorial window, depicting Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
, as well as the President Asa Dodge Smith
Asa Dodge Smith
The Rev. Asa Dodge Smith D.D., L.L.D. served as the 7th president of Dartmouth College from 1863 until his death in 1877.- Dartmouth Presidency :...
memorial window. He also created and executed the main stained glass window above the chancel in the Arnot Memorial Chapel at Trinity Church
Trinity Church (Elmira, New York)
The parish of Trinity Church, Elmira, New York was founded in 1833. Trinity Church is a parish of the Chemung District of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, centered in Syracuse, New York. The present structure of Trinity Church is located at 304 North Main Street, Elmira, New York....
in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
.