14 Fun & Interesting Facts About Stained Glass Windows [Updated]
Stained glass is one of the most culturally significant art forms in world history. It has ancient origins and a fascinating history in Europe and other parts of the world.
The Middle Ages and Renaissance periods are considered the Golden Ages of stained glass windows. These functional works of art continue to decorate the most famous churches and cathedrals in the world, and give us insights into the people and ideas of those living long ago.
While the popularity of stained glass windows waxed and waned during different periods of history, they continue to fascinate us today. Stained glass has experienced a resurgence in art and culture, with glass artists learning and teaching the art form in studios around the world today.
Let’s explore some interesting historical facts and fun facts about stained glass windows and other forms of stained glass art.
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1) Decorative glass dates back to the ancient Egyptians.
As with many other things, the ancient Egyptians are credited with creating some of the earliest glass art in human history. While they did not decorate windows with stained glass, the Egyptians were the first to experiment with glass for artistic purposes.
Some of the best evidence of their glass art survives today. Glass beads dating to 2750-2625 BC show the Egyptians’ ability to form basic shapes out of hot glass. To make the beads, artists wound molten glass around a removable clay core.
2) The oldest stained glass fragments in Europe date back to 686 AD.
Stained glass windows were a medieval invention. While the height of stained glass window production happened during and after the 14th century, earlier examples of stained glass windows have been excavated at sites across Europe.
Archaeologists found the earliest surviving evidence of a stained glass window at St. Paul’s Monastery in Jarrow, United Kingdom. The window was found in fragments and is believed to be from around 686 AD.
3) Augsburg Cathedral is home to the oldest complete stained glass window.
While England is home to the oldest fragments of stained glass in European history, the Augsburg Cathedral in Bavaria, Germany contains the oldest complete stained glass window. While the original five panels of the window have been moved to a museum, visitors can view copies of the window at the Cathedral.
The window is an excellent example of early medieval stained glass and features bright colors and line and tonal shading.
4) Sainte Chapelle contains one of the largest collections of medieval stained glass.
Sainte Chapelle in Paris is perhaps the best place in the world to see medieval stained glass windows. The chapel itself was designed in a beautiful Gothic style and only took a quick seven years to build.
Sainte Chapelle dates to the 13th century and features an impressive number of windows. Each of its 15 windows measures around 15 meters high. The windows are made from 1,113 smaller stained glass panels depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
5) The Great East Window at York Minster is the UK’s stained glass masterpiece.
York Minster is an architectural masterpiece located in York, England. While the entire cathedral is impressive, the Great East Window is truly a sight to see.
Created in the 1400s, the Great East Window is the largest stained glass window in the United Kingdom and is one of the country’s best examples of medieval stained glass.
6) The Great East Window is the size of a tennis court.
The Great East Window is truly massive. Its 311 stained glass panels measure the size of a tennis court. A window of its size and age requires a good deal of upkeep. The Great East Window has undergone an extensive series of restoration processes, including a new coat of glaze that offers state-of-the-art UV protection.
7) Medieval stained glass artists placed themselves in their artwork.
While most stained glass windows of the Middle Ages were made for churches, cathedrals, and monasteries, not all images depicted Biblical scenes.
Stained glass artists often portrayed themselves in their work and showed aspects of everyday life. Historians in modern times have studied stained glass windows to learn more about medieval daily routines, clothing, and occupations.
8) Bruges, Belgium was a major center of stained glass production.
Stained glass production of the Middle Ages took place in large and small cities across Europe. The Roman Catholic Church focused on church building and upkeep during the medieval period and into the Renaissance. Dozens of stained glass workshops popped up in major urban centers to keep up with demand.
One of the major hubs of stained glass production at the start of the Renaissance was Bruges, Belgium. At one point, the city housed over 80 stained glass shops!
9) Spain had few stained glass windows before the Renaissance.
While other countries in Europe hopped on the stained glass window bandwagon during the Middle Ages, Spain did not produce much stained glass until the Renaissance period of the 15th and 16th centuries.
Early stained glass production never took off in Spain due to the vast influence of the Moorish population that lived there. During the Renaissance, however, Spain became a major center of stained glass production. The Renaissance era is considered the Golden Age of Spanish stained glass.
10) The Hunchback of Notre Dame helped revive stained glass production in England.
19th century England saw a revival of Gothic influence as people looked back to the Middle Ages with nostalgia. Gothic literature was all the rage, and Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame helped boost the popularity of medieval architectural elements like stained glass windows.
The wealthy built country homes in the style of Gothic castles and acquired both authentic and reproduction artwork of the Middle Ages.
Stained glass windows were no exception. Artists scrambled to keep up with higher demands as clients commissioned stained glass windows modeled after medieval designs. Stained glass windows remained popular until the world wars of the early 20th century.
11) Russia discovered stained glass during World War II.
The Orthodox churches of Russia never had stained glass windows until World War II. After its invasions of Latvia and Lithuania, Russia adopted stained glass in the style of these countries.
Stained glass had over four centuries worth of history in Latvia and Lithuania. Styles evolved over time, but some of the most popular included patriotic themes, German influences, and nonrepresentational patterns and designs.
12) The hippies take credit for reviving stained glass in the US.
The revival of stained glass and other glass art styles happened in the 1960s with the hippie movement. As hippies moved to cities like San Francisco and renovated old houses, they rediscovered and restored the stained glass windows that were popular in these homes.
Hippies also experimented with their own stained glass art and popularized the suncatcher.
Around the same time as the hippies were making stained glass art, the Studio Glass Movement took off. Glass art of all forms has enjoyed immense popularity ever since.
13) Stained glass is made using 6 basic steps.
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While stained glass is an intricate art form that can take many years to master, the process of making stained glass can be summarized into six basic steps. These steps have not changed much since the Middle Ages.
The basic steps of stained glass production are: designing, cutting, painting, lead, glazing, and cementing.
14) The state of Ohio loves stained glass!
While you can find stained glass studios in every state in the US, Ohio is truly the center of stained glass making in the country. The state has over 100 stained glass studios and many high-quality classes where you can learn the art form for yourself!