Christian Waller Stained Glass

Christian Waller's exemplary skills and achievements as an Australian stained glass artist are brought to light in this superb book. A leading proponent of Modernism in Australian art and the sole woman professional stained-glass artist in Australia until the craft revival of the 1970s, Christian was as ethereal in her outlook as she was exceptionally capable and innovative in her craft. She was well known to be a very fine creative artist and practitioner and her work was widely acclaimed and strongly in demand, but in a male-dominated art world less attention was paid to her than to that of her famous husband, Napier, with whom she collaborated most creatively and closely. Christian's rare talents were recognised early. She studied at the National Gallery School in Melbourne and was influenced by the British Arts and Crafts Movement. She was intensely spiritual and she developed a unique synthesis of Christianity and Theosophy. Aspects of theosophical thinking, Hermetic lore, Symbolism and the Celtic Revival permeated her theologically sophisticated art, which parallels that of Piet Mondrian and Hilma af Klint. Her work has been universally admired for its mastery of technique, sumptuous colour, brilliant design and originality. Dr Miley examines Christian Waller's entire oeuvre and offers a close analysis of the themes and iconography of her works.