Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery art as inspiration for a medieval novel

Andrea Sarginson (left) and Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery Chairperson Jenny Buckley

The Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery welcomed a talk from past member and local writer Andrea Sarginson on Thursday (10 March).

Andrea’s first novel ‘Man of Glass’ was about to be launched when Covid struck, managing just two book signings before the first lockdown. Ironically, her novel’s principal character, Amalric is a gifted young glazing apprentice circa 1349, during the first wave of a new pestilence (later known as the Black Death).

Andrea avoided spoilers for readers of the book but gave captivating, illustrated insights into elements that inspired and compelled her to write it.

The history of glass itself, medieval art, Christianity, and medicine were all grist to her mill; but also her beloved Yorkshire, epitomised in the isolated abandoned village of Wharram Percy, a model for Amalric’s fictional home.

Ancient church buildings such as at Jarrow, Canterbury, Ely, Tewkesbury, and York that survived Henry VIII’s destruction, display the significance of ‘coloured’ glass from early medieval times (it only becomes ‘stained’ glass with the introduction of silver nitrate in the early 14th century).

Amalric despairs at how the church responds to the threat of pestilence and is appalled by the superstition that pervades his village.

The Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery (FRAG) meet on the second Thursday of the month at Touchstones.

Tea, coffee & biscuits served from 1pm - Guest Speaker from 1.30pm - 2.30pm. Members £3, Non-members £4 on the door.

All welcome. Annual membership is only £10 and you will be supporting your local art gallery and also get discounted rates on talks and trips organised by the Friends and invitations to private views for exhibitions.

For further details please contact Jenny Buckley (Chair, FRAG) on 01706 358686 or Mark Doyle (Co-Head of Culture, Touchstones) on 01706 924555.

Dr Joe Dawson