Institute for Stained Glass in Canada

The "Theologia" Window: University of Winnipeg

"THEOLOGIA, Queen of All Learning" is an exuberantly conceived window centered on the apparently contrived "mythical" figure "Theologia". ........................... The design was first created by Henry Holiday in 1886 and is one of the more remarkable stained glass works in Western Canada, both for the unusual conjunction of Classical and Christian figures, and for Holiday's exquisite drawing and colouration. To say nothing of the fact that "Theologia" is nowhere to be found elsewhere on the Web! ........................ The window was created in 1893 for the Methodist Wesley College, which ultimately became the University of Winnipeg. ........................ An earlier version of the same design was made in 1886 for Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, also founded by Methodists.(1886) ........................ Holiday was highly accomplished in many mediums, and was admitted to the British Royal Academy at the age of 15. He even illustrated the first publication of Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark! His Pre-Raphaelite mentors included Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, and his many paintings were widely acclaimed.