User:Jmurphy011/Medieval stained glass

History

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Early stained glass

Window glass was in use beginning as early as the 8th century CE with colored window glass displayed in religious buildings. One of the earliest known examples of stained glass is from the Baume-Les-Messieurs Monastery in Jura, France, which showcases large stained glass windows surrounding an alter. The Baume-Les-Messieurs Monastery provided the framework for the stained glass of the early medieval period.

The glass in early middle ages was simple and mostly used in small amounts, often alongside other materials like mosaics. The thick opaque glass consisted of basic colors such as red, blue, and green, creating geometric designs instead of detailed pictures. The glass was made from heating sand, lime, and soda ash in a furnace which created a murky color that limited light exposure.

Early stained glass windows were not only decorative but also educational. They conveyed biblical stories and moral lessons to largely illiterate people. This made the church more inclusive and able to reach a broader range of people.

Romanesque stained glass

The Romanesque period began in the 11th and 12th century with the revival of Roman architecture. The revival combined traditions of Roman architecture with stained glass. Eventually, Romanesque stained glass became its own entity, developing into a new style. This new style was on display in Romanesque style churches throughout Europe.

Romanesque stained glass windows were often smaller and made from thick, colorful glass, with bold lines that formed simple, clear images. The glass pieces were held together by thick lead strips, creating a graphic and sometimes blocky look compared to later styles.The windows often showed scenes from the Bible and the lives of saints.

While there are not many surviving examples of Romanesque stained glass, some can still be found in churches like Saint-Denis in France and Saint-Sernin in Toulouse. This style of stained glass influenced the later Gothic style, which had larger windows and thinner glass. Although Gothic stained glass became more famous for its detailed and intricate designs, Romanesque stained glass played a key role in shaping stained glass art and spreading religious messages.

Later stained glass

The late medieval period, often referred to as the Gothic Era, ranged from the 14th to the 16th century and marked a significant evolution in stained glass artistry. This era saw advancements in both the technical aspects of glassmaking and the complexity of window designs.

The most significant change in stained glass from the Romanesque to the Gothic Era was the increased use of glass painting techniques, which allowed for greater detail and narrative depth in the imagery. Artists began to employ more refined methods of shading and highlighting, enhancing the three-dimensionality of figures depicted in the glass. Glassmakers experimented with different additives and firing techniques to create a wider range of colors. These colors included rich purples, deep blues, and vibrant greens. These new colors added depth and richness to the stained glass windows, further enhancing their visual impact.

This new technique is seen in the Evreux Cathedral in France. The Cathedral began development in the 13th century and was not finished until the 17th century. The glass making took place in the 14th and 15th centuries and exemplified the stained glass of the late middle ages. The stained glass portrayed Christ and the Virgin Mary in a more three dimensional form than earlier stained glass designs. Each panel of glass depicts Jesus and Mary in the bible that had not previously been seen in three dimensional form on glass windows.