|
|
|
ART OF STAINED GLASS Medieval stained glass became a staple of the ecclesiastical edifices in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; at the time, only kings and nobles, such as Charles V of France, are reported to have stained glass windows in their secular homes. Back then, the glass was mouth blown in foundries in a limited color palette of cobalt blue, copper blue, white, copper red and silver yellow. It was common practice for ancient artisans to arrange the pieces symmetrically, like mosaic work; and this, which was very simple, gave the first idea of painting on glass. This assemblage of pieces, or panes, was in time dispensed with, and more regular designs attempted. Figures and entire histories were represented, which were drawn upon white glass, and the colours tempered with size, as in distemper painting. The contours of the figureswere done in strong outline, hatching the draperies in black. A bright transparent red was chosen for the flesh-colours, upon which they drew with black the features of the face and other parts of the body. The colours were later incorporated with the glass itself, by firing. The picturial details were small and meant to be "guessed at" from afar, and the emphasis was on the overall look of the window with the representative parts almost a secondary consideration. They looked geometric, and only by squinting could the viewer make out some small pictorial scenes. Later in the fifteenth century, stained glass revolved less around the overall impression, thus the figures became more dominant, often filling the entire window. At the same time, glass painting consisting mainly of tracing black, grisaille and silver stain (yellow), was emphasized, giving rise to an increase in the use of the color yellow. Lead lines, once considered an integral part of the design, were now deliberately obscured or at least rendered cryptic by the paint work. The Verrerie Saint-Juste in France has been producing mouth-blown glass since 1826. VERRERIE DE SAINT-JUST 
Glasshutte Lamberts is another manufacturer, based in Germany. REAMY GLASS 
|