Show Stained Glass Windows Celebrate Life of Christ oo The Impact of ot Its ita incandescent splendor splendor and andia its ita overwhelming overwhelming over over- whelming physical magnitude make mate the stained glass window one of the most spectacular Cular art forms ever They are at once dazzling and awesome Since stained glass owes Its artistic existence to light It Is directly affected by Its Ita environment J like Jewel Brilliance Almost from Ita its exterior the sta stained ned glass windows of a Gothic cathedral viewed from its Interior reveal tier on tier of dazzling and sparkling windows The brilliance Is intensified not only by the Impurities and bubbles bubbles bub bubo bles within the glass Itself but bythe by the dIrt din and weathering of the exterior well Just as a Jewel Its brilliance enhanced en ens by its ita many facets and glows so 80 do we find the stained glass window dazzles and dances as aa the position of the suns sun's rays move through It Each mark or scar on its surface further Intensifies Its Ita brilliance Early Stained Glass Glace Colored glass lass beads were worn by the ancient Egyptians and glass blowing lowing was was' known to the Roman Empire but no one really knows Just lust when and where stained glass was first used The cathe cathedral ral window was Gothic In origin though examples of stained glass that possibly date from the eighth century were found to In France Biblical Themes Windows that told stories of the Bible and the saints were first conceived in hi the twelfth century Five larger larger- than sized figures The Prophets In the windows of the Cathedral of Augsburg Germany are the oldest stained glass lass windows still ill to be seen In hi their original setting One One of the greatest existing series of windows In the cath Cathedral dral of Chartres France Franc t depicts scenes from theOld the theOld theOld Old and New Testaments the Virgin virgin and Christ Apostles and Saints These date from 1200 New Uses Uses' Until the end of the Middle Ages stained glass windows monumental and religious were so costly that the only buildings deemed worthy to receive them as gifts were houses of God Stained glass became secular as well as church art with the Increasing affluence of the growing middle class Contemporary Stained Glass Clase Windows After a period when Interest in stain stained d glass windows waned the late brought about new and original designs and color schemes Artists Charles J J. J Connick and Wilbur Herbert Burnham became well known for their beautiful windows designed for the Cathedrals of St St. John the Divine and I St. St Pack Patrick In New York City Grace Ca- Ca r It 1 r t 1 F- F i t ta a i z r t o tM t a. a J Top Right Right- THE Right THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT scene from Croin the Labor Bay of oC the Cathedral Church of oC St. St John the Divine New York City Photo by C C. Harrison Conroy Above PASSION DEPOSITION Carmelite Church of oC Boppard Rheim Germany 1445 The Metropolitan Museum of oC Art Thomas Leland Fund Fetid Right ANNUN ANNUNCIATION TION Segment of oC window from Crom the castle astle chapel at Ebreichsdorf Austria about 1390 The Metropolitan Museum of oC Art The Cloisters Collection ion k is i r ii b 3 M Ml l rf t hi J f i-i i W Ml c. c thedral In San Francisco and other churches in the United States In France Henri Matisse Georges Rouault and Fernand Leger designed windows for churches to th Assy Amy and other areas Rebuilding of churches damaged during World War II in Germany and England resulted In new and outstanding ng stained glass windows In contemporary designs A Gift to the W World orId Stirring In their beauty and magnitude stained glass windows inspire and reinforce in blazing message message message mes mes- sage they contain a message of brotherhood and love and promise and a renewal of our faith in all mankind 1 r rs s Q vy t V t v r if t ti I iL 1 9 |