The History of Stained Glass Windows
Stained glass is made by adding colored metallic salts during its manufacture. The process of creating these windows involves arranging pieces of the colored glass inside a frame to form a design, which is fastened together with strips of lead. Stained glass windows are a global fascination and have adorned churches and other establishments for centuries.
Early History
Stained glass window use began with church building. In the 10th century, French and German churches featured biblical windows and English churches featured decorative windows.
Documentation
Around 1100 AD, a monk named Theophilus wrote a "how to" that described stained glass window construction and techniques.
The Gothic Age
The Gothic age ushered in fantastic stained glass window techniques that graced the great cathedrals of Europe with works of art.
The Renaissance
During the Renaissance, stained glass suffered a 300 year period in which the form became less artistic and more garish with the use of thick, heavy paint.
The 1800s
In the mid-1800s, interest in Gothic architecture resurrected in England when art historians rediscovered stained glass techniques of medieval times.
Contemporary Age
After the Second World War the flowering abstract and expressionist movements led to stained glass church windows that are reminiscent of the artistically beautiful Gothic period.
