The History of Stained Glass
There has been a revival in the popularity of stained glass in the last 3-4 decades. This renewed interest has spread to where universities and colleges now offer select fine art programs that teach the art of stained-glass making. Several individual talented artists, like Tom Holdman, have flourished as well. Tom’s outstanding work in this industry offers hands-on experiences and tours at Holdman Studios for those who would like to see more. It has also become a very popular hobby.
But how did stained glass all get started? Below is a brief summary of the history of stained-glass art.
Purpose
Most windows are planned with the aim to allow light into the room as well as letting those inside see out. However, the purpose of stained-glass windows is not about being able to look out of them, but to control the light, beautify the building and even tell a story.
Origins
While the exact beginning of the use of stained-glass is not certain, it is likely that ancient Egyptians were first to discover glass while building their vessels. Egyptian colored glass beads from approximately 2700 BC are the most dated example of man-made glass. Wealthy Romans first had stained-glass windows in their homes in the 1st century AD. One can find early examples of stained-glass windows in varying Middle East mosques and palaces, and St. Paul’s Monastery in England. A glass art piece showcasing the head of Jesus Christ from the 10th century is among the earliest stained-glass discovered in Germany at the Lorsch Abbey.
How they were made
First a blueprint of the design was made on a large board. Sand and potash were mixed to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit by artisans to make stained glass. Then various metallic oxide powders were blended in to make different colors. While still pliable, the glass would then be flattened into sheets and set on top of the blueprint. I was cut into the sizes needed. Each piece was then finished by a grozing tool.
Details were sometimes painted on the stained glass with a particular paint that was created from iron fillings and ground glass suspended in wine. This paint mixture helped define designs and block light. Once finished, the glass pieces were fit into cames, which are H-shaped strips of lead. The cames were soldered to each other into panels, which then were fitted into an armature, which is an iron frame. Then the window was complete and ready to install.
Medieval times
With the construction of Gothic cathedrals in the 10th century came the type of stained-glass windows that we are familiar with today. Built in the later 11th century, the Augsburg Cathedral in Germany has some of the oldest and complete stained-glass windows. At that time, the Medieval church funded the majority of stained-glass windows. The object of stained-glass windows in this period of time were typically religious in nature and were meant to tell Bible stories to people who could not read. It was also meant to add beauty to the churches. Perhaps the stories from the stained-glass windows had a more profound effect on the people than did the sermons of the day.
Gothic windows were usually wheel, rose or spear shaped and quite tall. If you look at the Notre Dame chapel, you can see a classic example of a Gothic stained-glass window as it has the biggest rose-shaped windows worldwide.
Renaissance period
While the main subjects remained Bible-related, Renaissance windows showcased people dressed in Renaissance style apparel. During this time, several non-religious designs were added to church windows and glass art windows were also included in wealthy homes and town buildings. Some pieces include a linear perspective where a scene is taking place in the foreground and the background. More human movement and emotions were becoming popular in pieces during this period. To portray realism and feeling in characters, artists tried using enamel paint, yet this wasn’t very effective on stained glass because the windows were displayed too far away to see the design detail.
The Decline
Stained-glass windows decreased in popularity from the Renaissance time to the mid-19th century. This is mostly because of changes that took place in the religious perspectives of the time. Initially, the church supported the arts. However, the new Protestants did not believe in decoration and fancy artwork. By 1640, it was rare to see any stained-glass except in small panels. The Trinity and the Virgin Mary were removed from churches by demand o the English Parliament which resulted in many stained-glass windows being destroyed by extremists. Sadly at this time, creating stained glass became a lost art.
Modern Revival
During the mid-19th century, a new-found love in Gothic style was revived all over the United States and Europe. The lost technique of the medieval stained-glass windows was renewed by artists, although cut short due to the 1930’s and 1940’s depression and then World War II.