Illuminations

The light of the sun beams down
seeming to magically illuminate
pictorial stories created with colored glass.


God of Angel Armies
Glencairn, Huntingdon Valley, PA

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Stained glass began more as a domestic luxury
(dating back to Pompeiian times)
than as the artistic medium it is considered today.


Father, Forgive Them 
Glencairn, Huntingdon Valley, PA 

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By the 9th and 10th Centuries
demand for churches increased the demand for stained glass.
and in the 17th century it truly was an accepted art form.


Stained Glass Artisan
Glencairn, Huntingdon Valley, PA 

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Life for stained glass has been a rough ride.
From its origins and through most of the gothic period
it enjoyed growing popularity.


The Artisan's Tools
Glencairn, Huntingdon Valley, PA 

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However, the 16th Century brought restrictions on religious imagery,
forcing glass artisans to seek secular commissions.
In addition, wars and religious upheavals saw the destruction
of much glasswork in churches and monasteries.

Stained Glass Artisan
Glencairn, Huntingdon Valley, PA

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Amid this destruction,
growing Renaissance styles favored murals, frescoes and enamels.
The methods of this artistry became a lost art
until its revival in the 19th century.
Informational Source


Shades of Grey 
Grisaille Glazing 
Glencairn, Huntingdon Valley, PA 

Once again, I am left to wonder at a culture 
that deliberately destroyed such beauty.  


Swirls of Grey
Grisaille Glazing 
Glencairn, Huntingdon Valley, PA 

Sadly, history does repeat itself.

Leaflets 

Glencairn, Huntingdon Valley, PA 

At least today, 

we can enjoy a replication of what was lost. 

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Click any photo to go to the complete gallery. 

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The Poor Man's Bible

Way back in the day,
like when AD became BC
and for many centuries afterward,
light, color and glass were used as a means to depict Biblical scenes for the illiterate masses. 

The Stained Glass Artist and The Apprentice

I have to wonder, now that we are literate,
how much do the masses actually read?
Has the screen taken the place of these stained glass beauties?
Pity. 

The Work of My Hands

And just like I shared about my love of Illuminated Manuscript, 

I adore the traditional rich and vibrant colors used in stained glass windows.

 

Glorious Glass


There is something about the work of traditional artisans
that fascinates me.
They create individual pieces of beauty.



The Test of Time 

Things that are worth standing the test of time.
Things that we should treasure throughout time.



Just like the architectural marvels that house such works,
we submit them to the wrecking ball in the name of progress.
Pity.

Maybe the masses should start reading again.

Glencairn Medieval Festival 
Huntingdon Valley, PA
February 3, 2013

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