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| Margaret Rope: The 'genius' stained glass artist who became a nun | Margaret Rope: The 'genius' stained glass artist who became a nun |
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| The rebellious Victorian artist behind some of the world's most admired stained glass was forgotten after she gave up motorbikes and cigars to become a nun, an exhibition has revealed. | The rebellious Victorian artist behind some of the world's most admired stained glass was forgotten after she gave up motorbikes and cigars to become a nun, an exhibition has revealed. |
| Heavenly Lights at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery tells the untold story of Margaret Rope. | |
| Born in Shrewsbury in 1882, experts say her work shows "startling modernism". | Born in Shrewsbury in 1882, experts say her work shows "startling modernism". |
| But she joined a convent, requesting her work be destroyed after her death, and her "genius" went uncelebrated. | But she joined a convent, requesting her work be destroyed after her death, and her "genius" went uncelebrated. |
| Rope died aged 71 in relative obscurity. | Rope died aged 71 in relative obscurity. |
| For more stories on Victorian England visit our Pinterest board | For more stories on Victorian England visit our Pinterest board |
| Rope's colourful windows survive today in churches across the UK, Australia, South Africa and Rome - and in museums in Los Angeles and New York. | Rope's colourful windows survive today in churches across the UK, Australia, South Africa and Rome - and in museums in Los Angeles and New York. |
| Marga, as she was known to her friends, wore her hair short, smoked cheroot cigars and forged a career at a time when women were largely suppressed, Dr Sally Hoban, a historian at Birmingham University, said. | Marga, as she was known to her friends, wore her hair short, smoked cheroot cigars and forged a career at a time when women were largely suppressed, Dr Sally Hoban, a historian at Birmingham University, said. |
| "There's a story about her and her sister riding across England on their motorbikes at the beginning of the First World War," her cousin Arthur Rope said. | "There's a story about her and her sister riding across England on their motorbikes at the beginning of the First World War," her cousin Arthur Rope said. |
| "When they got to Suffolk they got arrested for being German spies because people couldn't imagine what two women were doing on motorbikes." | "When they got to Suffolk they got arrested for being German spies because people couldn't imagine what two women were doing on motorbikes." |
| Aged 18, Rope enrolled at the Birmingham School of Arts where she learned to design and make stained glass. | Aged 18, Rope enrolled at the Birmingham School of Arts where she learned to design and make stained glass. |
| Less than 10 years later, when she began to gain recognition for her art, Rope became a devout Catholic and chose the harsh life of poverty and prayer as a Carmelite nun, Mr Rope said. | Less than 10 years later, when she began to gain recognition for her art, Rope became a devout Catholic and chose the harsh life of poverty and prayer as a Carmelite nun, Mr Rope said. |
| Rope joined the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, Norfolk, where, shut off from the world, she continued to create stained glass in a small studio. | Rope joined the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, Norfolk, where, shut off from the world, she continued to create stained glass in a small studio. |
| Stuart West, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure, said he hoped the exhibition, which runs until 15 January, would attract the recognition the artist never experienced. | Stuart West, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure, said he hoped the exhibition, which runs until 15 January, would attract the recognition the artist never experienced. |
| "Margaret Rope was one of the greatest stained glass artists of the early 20th Century, and her works can be seen all over the world," he said. | "Margaret Rope was one of the greatest stained glass artists of the early 20th Century, and her works can be seen all over the world," he said. |
| "Despite her obvious genius, her name is hardly remembered at all, and we hope this exhibition - the first dedicated solely to her work and times - will give her reputation the boost it deserves." | "Despite her obvious genius, her name is hardly remembered at all, and we hope this exhibition - the first dedicated solely to her work and times - will give her reputation the boost it deserves." |
| See more on the life and work of Margaret Rope on BBC Inside Out West Midlands on Monday 26 September on BBC One at 19:30 GMT and available afterwards on iPlayer. | See more on the life and work of Margaret Rope on BBC Inside Out West Midlands on Monday 26 September on BBC One at 19:30 GMT and available afterwards on iPlayer. |