Stained Glass
Stained glass dates back as far as 2750 BC. From egyptians using colored glass for beads in their jewelry, to First Century AD Romans glazing glass into windows.
The oldest known example of "colorful and multiple glass pieces used in a window", was unearthed at St. Pauls Monastery in Jarrow, England, 686 AD.
Window Subject treatment grew expanding from simple figures to a complex iconography. St. Denis & Chatres was established though a similarity of style and iconography.
Stained Glass: Windows composed of pieces of colored glass held in place by strips of lead.
The Purpose of Stained Glass:
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To provide Ambience.
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No desire to illustrate but the need to sedate light.
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Used as illustration, text and memorial! Totally multifunctional.
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Both walls and windows also were used as instruction for the illedgable.
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To echoe the study of the world, functioning as a visual aid as well as to teach with.
Emerse yourself for a moment.. You walk into a massive cathedral... Dimly lit by the newly rising sun shining through the bold and warm colors of the glass. Do you get louder and cheer as though you were in a stadium? No... You'd do exact opposite as the choir began to sing. Your voice lowers, your energy becomes balanced, you've transitioned yourself into a more peaceful state, you are in a holy place, safe...
Stained glass in a church is like, pieces of heart that you can see into, and out.
