John Wilson’s mansion ‘Woodlands’, Crowlands, Ararat, Victoria, Australia.
Australian Heritage database, Place ID: 14970, File No: 2/04/172/0011
“Woodlands, one of Victoria’s grander Italianate country mansions, was built in 1868 to the design of Crouch and Wilson. It was built for the third owner of the Woodlands Station, Mr John Wilson, the elder brother and pastoral partner of Sir Samuel Wilson, who commissioned the same architects to design his Homestead, ‘Longerenong’, near Horsham in 1862. The front door has stained glass sidelights and a stained glass window in the stair hall by Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon.”
The Brothers John & and Sir Samuel Wilson also contributed funds for the two largest windows in Scots Church Melbourne which were both made by Ferguson & Urie.
At the Art Treasures Exhibition of 1869, Ferguson & Urie display the stained glass window intended for the hall of John Wilson’s ‘Woodlands’ Mansion in Western Victoria.
The Argus, Melbourne, Tuesday 13th April 1869, page 6.
“…Returning to our task, and passing from the western to the eastern aisle of the great hall, we find a novel addition to the original exhibits in the shape of a stained glass window, executed for Mr. John Wilson, of Woodlands, and intended to be placed in the hall of that mansion. It represents, in the central portion of the composition, night and morning and the four seasons, the interspaces of the medallions being filled in with arabesque ornaments. Full length figures of Faith, Hope, and Charity; Art, Literature, and Science, occupy the borders. It is from the manufactory of Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, and is a gratifying indication of the progress which is being made in this branch of art-manufacture. Upon this, also, the establishment of a school of design, in which will be taught the principles which should govern the employment of colour in decorative art, cannot fail to have a beneficial effect. For, critically considered, the window under notice is open to this objection—that too many colours have been employed, and that those of an opaque character have been too freely introduced. It is generally admitted that the medieval artists have never been surpassed in this branch of art, and an examination of the best of their surviving works will show that they rarely employed any but the primary colours, and that perfect transparency was almost invariably aimed at. Their figures were often badly drawn and ungracefully posed, but the general effect of the composition, as a whole, was admirable; and this was owing to the limitations, proportions, and distribution of colour. Their saints and angels, virgins and patriarchs, were simply outlined forms, filled in with colour, but with a notable absence of shadow. It is but just, however, to Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon to say that some of the best of the European glass painters treat a window in much the same way they would an ordinary picture, and introduce light and shadow, atmosphere and perspective; although, by so doing, they sacrifice to a very great extent the transparency and brilliance of the medium….”
Woodlands is now a privately owned property located north east of Ararat. The windows are extant. No photos yet.
Related posts:
06-12-1876: Scots Church Melbourne.
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Ferguson and Urie 