An armorial stained glass panel by Wolfgang Spengler
Painted with coloured enamels, tracing black, and silver stain. The leading partially replaced. A rare panel with a view of a bridge over a river with a soldier and a standard bearer. The town coat of arms beneath the imperial eagle in the foreground, inscribed "Die Löbliche Statt Sankt Gallen Ano 1655 W.S.P." Monogrammed to the right below the date. H 38.7, W 30.6 cm.
Constance, 1655.
Two armorial panels by Wolfgang Spengler are listed in the catalogue of the legendary stained glass collection of Lord Sudeley. One of which, monogrammed "WSP", shows the same view of Sankt Gallen behind standard bearers, and is also dated 1655.
Wolfgang Spengler was born into a large family of stained glass makers in Constance. Even this small panel demonstrates that his technical repertoire was more extensive than that of most of his contemporaries. His use of various painting and compositional techniques shows that he aimed for an innovative use of colour. The landscape view in the background with its central perspective appears modern, as it is composed like a veduta and not in the usual cartographic manner. The low horizon suggests an expansive and panoramic landscape. The pair of figures placed dynamically before the empty sky represent civic and military power.
Provenance
Bought at Sotheby´s London, December 14th, 1978, lot 66
Private collection, Germany.
Literature
Cf. auction cat.: Hugo Helbing, Sammlung Lord Sudeley, Toddington Castle, Munich, 4th October 1911, lot 178, illus.