Having Stained Glass Windows

Historians recognize the Cathedral of Augsburg in Bavaria, Germany for having the oldest surviving stained glass windows dating to the 12th century. Standing the test of time, the 9th century Romanesque style cathedral can be found 40 miles away from Munich.

Originally made to be used by the church centuries ago, stained glass windows can still be found in churches around the world. In the church, stained glass used natural light, which symbolized the first act of God during the Creation, to bring the illustration to life. To observers, God's presence through the light shining through the windows helps bring the holy images to life. These helped tell stories of the Bible or of Saints that were depicted as most of the general public throughout history were unable to read. Visitors or pilgrims who wanted to learn more about the holy event or story being told in the stained glass window could ask the guide or monk for more details.

During the Renaissance, stained glass windows were also created for private residences and public buildings. Panes of painted glass began to replace the standard stained glass in windows during the 18th century and resulted in the destruction of windows originally crafted during the medieval period. The 19th century saw the Gothic Revival movement in England where artists made new stained glass windows in the medieval style for new Gothic buildings. These Gothic stained glass windows were used to embellish churches by replacing the simple painted glass ornamental windows that had crept into churches.

America began to develop its own distinctive style of stained glass windows with the emergence of John LaFarge and Louis Comfort Tiffany during the late 19th century. LaFarge and Tiffany were American painters, working independently of each other and later became rivals. Harvard University's Memorial Hall, Boston's Trinity Church, and New York City's Judson Memorial Church are some of LaFarge's most famous works. The American glass movement took a large step forward with Tiffany taking LaFarge's copyrighted opalescent glass and moving it to the forefront of the public's gaze.

Many use stained glass in windows to match the dcor of a room which may include reproductions of stained glass in artwork. A portion of stained glass can even be hung on a wall to grab an onlooker's attention away from a less desirable view. People have used stained glass windows from churches in the beginning of its history, to public buildings through the Renaissance, and now in homes.

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Having Stained Glass Windows