In Memoriam: deanspic
A medieval creation
Chartres probably has the finest collection of medieval stained glass to be found anywhere in the world. Of the 186 cathedral windows, about 150 of them have most, or all, of their original 12'th and 13'th century stained glass. Almost all of the glass survived the wars of religion, the French revolution, the second world war (when it was temporarily removed in 1939) and the ravages of nature and time.
Chartres glass is famous for its vivid colours. The blue, called "Chartres Blue", which is compared to the blue of the autumn sky, was created by mixing cobalt salts. Copper was used to make green, and gold in the manufacture of red. Paint was used to create other colours and for details like facial features. It's all held together by lead framing in the massive window frames of this finest of Gothic cathedrals.
The patterns of light in the individual windows, as well as the general pattern of light in the cathedral change from hour to hour, season to season. To really appreciate it's magnificent medieval artwork takes multiple visits. I visited only once, for about an hour, and it was an overwhelming experience. This panel had some good ambient light and was the best example of the glass that I could photograph.
A medieval creation
Chartres probably has the finest collection of medieval stained glass to be found anywhere in the world. Of the 186 cathedral windows, about 150 of them have most, or all, of their original 12'th and 13'th century stained glass. Almost all of the glass survived the wars of religion, the French revolution, the second world war (when it was temporarily removed in 1939) and the ravages of nature and time.
Chartres glass is famous for its vivid colours. The blue, called "Chartres Blue", which is compared to the blue of the autumn sky, was created by mixing cobalt salts. Copper was used to make green, and gold in the manufacture of red. Paint was used to create other colours and for details like facial features. It's all held together by lead framing in the massive window frames of this finest of Gothic cathedrals.
The patterns of light in the individual windows, as well as the general pattern of light in the cathedral change from hour to hour, season to season. To really appreciate it's magnificent medieval artwork takes multiple visits. I visited only once, for about an hour, and it was an overwhelming experience. This panel had some good ambient light and was the best example of the glass that I could photograph.