John Charles Spence (born January 5, 1830, in Liverpool, United Kingdom, and died on September 14, 1890, in Montreal, Canada) was a Canadian stained-glass artist and painter of British origin.
Biography John Charles Spence was born on January 5, 1830, in Liverpool, United Kingdom.His birth date, January 5, 1830, is inscribed on a commemorative stained-glass window in his memory at Saint John the Evangelist Church in Montreal. Around 1849, he opened a glass and stained glass factory at 40 Brownlow Hill in Liverpool. He emigrated to Canada in August 1853 and settled at 21 Notre-Dame Street in Montreal. From that moment on, he worked for the Ramsay & McArthur firm, making stained and enamel glass. He is already present at the Lower Canada Provincial Exhibition in September 1853, where the company exhibited stained glass windows and furniture adorned with enamelled glass. Also in 1853, he did the glazing for the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Church in Montreal. On February 21, 1854, he formalized his partnership with the company. However, on December 1, 1854, the Ramsay & McArthur partnership was dissolved by mutual consent and John C. Spence consequently cancelled his agreement with this company on January 1, 1855. He continued his business on his own account under the company name "Canada Stained Glass Works" and produced between 1855 and 1858 the stained glass windows for the altar of Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.
Around 1862, John C. Spence ended his partnership with John McArthur and moved his workshop to 52 St. James Street. Around 1863, he moved his workshop again, this time to De Bleury Street, but in a temporary location while a new three-story brick building was being constructed by architect James Nelson at the intersection of Jurors and Bleury Streets to house his factory. Around 1865, John C. Spence moved into his brand-new factory.
John C. Spence died in Montreal on September 14, 1890. His funeral was held on September 17, 1890, at Saint John the Evangelist Church. His sons, William and Henry, continued their father's business together until their partnership was dissolved in 1899. Henry John Spence continued the business, still under the names "John C. Spence & Sons" and "Canada Stained Glass Works," with the help of his own son, Frank Spence, until about 1917. Around 1920, the company became the "Montreal Art Glass Reg."
Around 1894, the new baptistery of Saint John the Evangelist Church in Montreal was built in memory of John C. Spence. However, the stained glass windows were made by the Hardman & Co. company of the United Kingdom.
Family John C. Spence is the son of British sculptor William Spence and the brother of sculptor Benjamin Edward Spence.
John C. Spence had at least four children: two sons, William Ramsay and Henry John, and at least two daughters (one residing in New York and the other in the United Kingdom).
Spence and the artists Throughout his career, John C. Spence surrounded himself with artists for the creation of stained and enamelled glass. His presence in Montreal's artistic community allowed him to select talented artists. For example, he served on the management committee of the Mechanics' Institute of Montreal in the 1850s. Around 1854-1855, he also taught "landscape and ornamental drawing" there. From 1884 to 1890, he was a member of the Art Association of Montreal and in 1886 sat on the association's decorative and industrial arts committee.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of artists who worked in collaboration with or for John C. Spence or his companies:
Paul Caron, painter and glass colorist (1890s). Robert Henders (1880s or 1890s). Arthur Alfred Mackey (1880s). William Ramsay Spence, son of John C. Spence (did works at least since 1884).William Ramsay Spence dies on July 26, 1946 in Montreal. Henry John Spence, son of John C. Spence (did works at least since 1886).Henry John Spence dies on June 10, 1930 in Montreal.
Exhibitions and awards Below is a non-exhaustive list of exhibitions in which James Thomson's company has exhibited works:
! Year !! Exhibition !! Date !! Location !! Works on display and awards (if applicable) |- | rowspan=1|1853 | Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) | September 27–30, 1853 | Montreal (McTavish Land) | Bedroom set with enameled glass panels painted with landscapes, fruit, and other decorations: Commended and Special Prize. Table decorated with enameled glass : Commended and Special Prize. Stained glass windows. |- | rowspan=1|1854 | Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) | September 12–15, 1854 | Quebec City (Land bordering Saint-Louis Street) | Stained-glass window illustrating The Virgin and Child. Stained-glass window illustrating The Burial of Christ. Stained-glass window illustrating the coat of arms of the United Kingdom. Stained-glass window illustrating a "Medieval design". |- | rowspan=4|1855 | Exposition universelle of Paris | May 15 - November 15, 1855 | Paris, France | No. 300 : colored stained-glass windows : Three stained-glass windows depicting the coats of arms of England, France and Turkey. Stained glass window for the chancel of the Protestant church in Durham in Ontario. No. 326 : Painted and gilded enamelled glass side table. Sketches of stained glass windows, including some intended for the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal. |- | Exhibition | May 1855 | Montreal (Mechanics' Institute) | Stained-glass windows. |- | Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) | September 12–14, 1855 | Sherbrooke | Stained-glass windows : 1st prize. |- | Provincial Exhibition of Upper Canada | October 9–12, 1855 | Cobourg | Stained-glass windows. |- | rowspan=1|1856 | Provincial Exhibition of Upper Canada | September 23–26, 1856 | Kingston, Ontario | Stained-glass windows. |- | rowspan=1|1857 | Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) | September 16–18, 1857 | Montreal | Stained-glass windows, diploma |- | rowspan=1|1858 | Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) | September 29 - October 1, 1858 | Montreal (Land belonging to the Grand Trunk Railway Company, in Pointe-Saint-Charles) | Stained-glass window, diploma. Colored glass, diploma. |- | rowspan=1|1860 | Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) | August 25 - September 8, 1860 | Montreal (Crystal Palace) | Stained-glass windows, silver medal. |- | rowspan=1|1863 | Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) | September 15–17, 1863 | Montreal (Crystal Palace) | Colored glass, 1st prize. |- | rowspan=1|1865 | Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) | September 26–29, 1865 | Montreal (Crystal Palace) | Stained-glass windows, 1st prize. Colored glass. |- | rowspan=1|1867 | Exposition Universelle (1867) | April 1 - November 3, 1867 | Paris, France | Stained-glass windows, mention |- | rowspan=1|1876 | Centennial Exposition | May 10 - November 10, 1876 | Philadelphia | Stained-glass window (30 feet high and 12 feet wide) depicting three subjects : Parable of the Good Samaritan, Parable of the Budding Fig Tree et Presentation of Jesus. Silver medal. |- | rowspan=1|1880 | Dominion Exhibition (Industrial Department) | September 14–24, 1880 | Montreal (Crystal Palace) | Stained-glass window, 1st prize |- | rowspan=1|1881 | Provincial Exhibition of Quebec (Industrial Department) | September 14–24, 1881 | Montreal (Crystal Palace) | Assortment of patterned stained glass windows. Stained glass window for the residence of L. J. Seargeant, "Weredale". Drawing of a stained-glass window, 1st prize. |- | rowspan=1|1882 | Provincial Exhibition of Quebec (Industrial Department) | September 14–23, 1882 | Montreal | Stained-glass window. Drawing of a stained-glass window, 1st prize. |- | rowspan=2|1883 | Lecture on the history of stained and painted glass, by lecturer Dr. Canon Norman. | February 4, 1883 | Montreal (Art Gallery of the 'Art Association of Montreal) | Samples of painted glass and stained glass mounted on a screen, by John C. Spence. |- | Dominion Exhibition (Industrial Department) | October 1–10, 1883 | Saint John, New Brunswick | Stained-glass windows. First prize. |- | rowspan=1|1884 | Dominion Exhibition (Industrial Department) | 5 au 13 septembre 1884 | Montreal | Assortment of painted and leaded glass panels, 1st prize. Assortment of stained glass windows, 2nd prize et diploma. Drawing of a stained-glass window by W. R. Spence, 1st prize. |- | rowspan=1|1885 | Annual Spring Exhibition of Works by Canadian Artists | April 1885 | Montreal (Art Gallery of the Art Association of Montreal) | Memorial stained-glass window depicting Cleansing of the Temple.
| rowspan=1|1886 | Colonial and Indian Exhibition | May 4 - October 15, 1886 | South Kensington (United Kingdom) | Stained glass window depicting General Montcalm, explorer Jacques Cartier, and Samuel de Champlain, surrounded by maple leaves, below which are toboggans, tomahawks, or tobacco pipes. Stained glass window depicting a mosaic of birds or leaves. |- | rowspan=2|1893 | Art Gallery Exhibition | March - April, 1893 | Montreal (Art Gallery of the Art Association of Montreal) | Stained glass windows intended for the World's Fair (see description below). |- | World's Columbian Exposition | May 1 - October 30, 1893 | Chicago | Stained glass window depicting two figures representing Peace and Abundance : "Beneath a small cherub-like figure representing the "Angel of Peace," is a female figure sitting upon a cannon : at her feet are books, a broken sword, cannon balls, etc. There is a back ground of mountains overhanging a lake in which are sailing vessels loaded with merchandise. At the right of the figure are doves : emblematical of Peace. A second female figure representing "Plenty." In her right hand are ears of wheat : in her left a cornucopia. The background is a field of grain with reapers at work. Running about the margin of the glass is a border of ears of corn interwoven with olive branches. [...] The dress of the figure "Peace" is blue; that of "Plenty" is ruby, mixed with white and olive green."
Stained glass window depicting the Savior blessing children. |- | rowspan=1|1894 | Exhibition of architectural drawings | October 1894 (Conference about the exhibition on October 4, 1894) | Montreal (Art Gallery of the '''Art Association of Montreal) | Drawing of a commemorative stained-glass window intended for Trinity Church, New Orleans, Louisiana. |- | rowspan=2|1897 | Lecture on the history of stained and painted glass, by lecturer Dr. Canon Norman. | February 4, 1897 | Montreal (Art Gallery of the Art Association of Montreal) | Sained-glass windows. Colored glass.
List of works John C. Spence (1853-1884)
Below is a non-exhaustive list of John C. Spence's known achievements, including those while he was employed or partner at Ramsay & McArthur (1853-1855) or McArthur & Spence (1860-1862): Circa 1853: glazing of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Church, Montreal, Quebec. Circa 1855: Stained glass windows in St. James Anglican Church, Ormstown, Quebec. 1850s (?): Stained glass windows in St. Mark's Anglican Church, Longueuil, Quebec. December 22, 1855: John C. Spence decorated the reception hall for a banquet organized by the New England Society of Montreal at the Ottawa Hotel in Montreal to commemorate the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. Between 1855 and 1858: Stained glass windows in the altar of Notre-Dame Church, Montreal, Quebec. Between 1857 and 1862: stained glass windows for Saint-Georges Church (Saint-Georges, Quebec). Circa 1857: commemorative stained glass window in memory of George Hamilton for a church in Hawkesbury, Ontario. Circa 1857: stained glass lamps for a fire engine destined for Station No. 2 of the Cataract Fire Company in Hamilton, Ontario. Circa 1857: stained glass windows for Saint-Jacques Cathedral in Montreal, Quebec.