They were particularly important in the High Gothic cathedrals, most famously in Chartres Cathedral. Their function was to fill the interior with a mystical colored light, representing the Holy Spirit , and also to illustrate the stories of the Bible for the large majority of the congregation who could not read.
Why was stained glass used in churches?
Stained glass windows were used in churches to enhance their beauty and to inform the viewer through narrative or symbolism . The subject matter was generally religious in churches, though “portraits” and heraldry were often included, and many narrative scenes give valuable insights into the medieval world.
What is stained glass and why was it used in cathedrals?
Visually Pleasing and Functional
Rather than just being mere decorations, these windows had spiritual significance– they were used as tools to teach people about God, about faith and about “the church.” Stained glass helped to embed religious ideals literally into the walls of churches !
What is the purpose of stained glass?
stained glass, in the arts, the coloured glass used for making decorative windows and other objects through which light passes .
Why is the colored glass in the Gothic era called stained glass?
Why is it called stained glass? The term stained glass derives from the silver stain that was often applied to the side of the window that would face the outside of the building . When the glass was fired, the silver stain turned a yellow color that could range from lemon to gold.
Why do Catholic churches use stained glass windows?
Besides showing Biblical scenes, stained glass windows were also prized for the way light shown through them, creating interesting sights within churches. ... Indeed, stained glass windows are utilized in Catholic churches to help bridge the gap between the earthly and the divine.
What is the colored glass in churches called?
The term stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material and to works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings.
Why is red glass more expensive?
Glass is colored by adding metal oxides or metal powders to molten glass. ... In early glass production, the rarest of colors was red. This is because red required the most costly of additives – gold .
Why is stained glass so important in the Middle Ages?
Stained glass windows developed in Europe during the Middle Ages, which lasted from the 5th century until the 14th or 15th century. ... Stained glass windows also conveyed religious ideas, stories, and symbols in picture form so that they may be understood by the congregation, many of whom couldn’t read or write.
What is the most famous stained glass window?
- Stained Glass of St.
- The Windows of Sainte-Chapelle (Paris, France) ...
- Resurrection Cemetery Mausoleum (Justice, Illinois) ...
- Glass Windows of the Grossmunster (Zurich, Switzerland) ...
- The Skylight at the Palau de la Música Catalana (Barcelona, Spain) ...
What is the difference between stained glass and painted glass?
Stained glass was made by mixing metallic oxides into the container in which the glass was melted. This was then blown and melted into sheets. ... With gothic influence of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, painted glass became more detailed and windows larger.
What paint is used for stained glass?
Creating a stained glass look using acrylic paint and white and clear school glue.
How is stained glass made art history?
How is stained glass made? Adding metallic oxides to sand and ash or lime, then infusing at high temperatures .
What specific shape of stained glass was popular in Gothic cathedrals?
The two most common styles of stained glass windows made for gothic cathedrals were the tall, spear-shaped lancet windows and circular rose windows.
What are the 5 elements of Gothic cathedral architecture?
While the Gothic style can vary according to location, age, and type of building, it is often characterized by 5 key architectural elements: large stained glass windows, pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and ornate decoration .
What architectural elements allowed the application of stained glass in the Gothic era?
From pointed arches to rib vaults to flying buttresses , all of these techniques allowed Gothic architecture to replace the thick, dark walls of Romanesque cathedrals with thin, towering walls of colored glass. These stained glass windows were the multimedia stories of their day.
