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What was the original purpose of stained glass windows?
When the glass was fired, the silver stain turned a yellow color that could range from lemon to gold. Stained glass was usually used to make windows, so that the light would shine through the painting. It is a form of painting that began over 1,000 years ago and is still essentially made the same way today.
Why was stained glass important in the Gothic cathedral?
They were particularly important in the High Gothic cathedrals, most famously in Chartres Cathedral. Their function was to fill the interior with a mystical colored light, representing the Holy Spirit, and also to illustrate the stories of the Bible for the large majority of the congregation who could not read.
Who invented stained glass art?
Benedict Biscop
The earliest known reference dates from 675 AD when Benedict Biscop imported workmen from France to glaze the windows of the monastery of St Peter which he was building at Monkwearmouth. Hundreds of pieces of coloured glass and lead, dating back to the late 7th century, have been discovered here and at Jarrow.
What is the importance of stained glass windows in church?
To sum it up, stained glass windows are omnipresent in churches because they’re used to depict Biblical individuals, groups of people, stories, and/or moralizing images. Churchgoers can “use” them to contemplate their faith and apply what they see to their everyday lives.
Why do Catholic churches have stained glass windows?
Besides showing Biblical scenes, stained glass windows were also prized for the way light shown through them, creating interesting sights within churches. Indeed, stained glass windows are utilized in Catholic churches to help bridge the gap between the earthly and the divine.
Why do you think an illiterate population benefited from the stained glass windows you saw?
Not only were they works of art, but they could also be used to tell stories to the people who saw them. However, stained glass windows depicted Biblical stories in such a way that even illiterate people could understand what was going on in the scenes in the windows.