The life of Gaetano Meo (1849 – 1925) reads like an unlikely novel. Born in rural poverty in Italy, he busked his way to England and became a favourite model for some of the Pre-Raphaelite brethren. You can see why from his portrait (as Bacchus) above.
Having modelled highly successfully, he was then discovered by the Brethren to have serious artistic talent, and so was sponsored by them to become both a stained-glass artist and a mosaicist.
St Saviour’s is lucky to have a wonderful window by Meo, high up at the East end, above the Christ in Glory (by John Lawson, not Martin Travers, as I mistakenly stated). It was commissioned from him by William Woodward, the architect of the church, in 1900. It’s a bit hard to see, which is a pity, because it is a beauty, much more vibrant in colour that the usual Pre-Raphaelite glass.
Meo was also a renowned maker of mosaics, and made all those on St Paul’s Cathedral and many in Westminster Cathedral as well. He or his workshop may have had a hand in the wonderful small memorial tablets to the Edwardes family, in the Lady Chapel.
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