Stained Glass Windows: Medieval Art Form and Religious Meditation

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• M.A., Anthropology, University of Iowa
• B.Ed., Illinois State University

Stained glass is transparent colored glass formed into decorative mosaics and set into windows, primarily in churches. During the art form’s heyday, between the 12th and 17th centuries CE, stained glass depicted religious tales from the Judeo-Christian Bible or secular stories, such as Chaucer’s Canterbury tales. Some of them also featured geometric patterns in bands or abstract images often based on nature.

Making Medieval stained glass windows for Gothic architecture was dangerous work performed by guild craftsmen who combined alchemy, nano-science, and theology. One purpose of stained glass is to serve as a source of meditation, drawing the viewer into a contemplative state.

Key Takeaways: Stained Glass

• Stained glass windows combine different colors of glass in a panel to make an image.
• The earliest examples of stained glass were done for the early Christian church in the 2nd–3rd centuries CE, although none of those survived.
• The art was inspired by Roman mosaics and illuminated manuscripts.
• The heyday of Medieval religious stained glass took place between the 12th and 17th centuries.
• Abbot Suger, who lived in the 12th century and reveled in blue colors representing the «divine gloom,» is considered the father of stained glass windows.

Definition of Stained Glass

Stained glass is made of silica sand (silicon dioxide) that is super-heated until it is molten. Colors are added to the molten glass by tiny (nano-sized) amounts of minerals—gold, copper, and silver were among the earliest coloring additives for stained glass windows. Later methods involved painting enamel (glass-based paint) onto sheets of glass and then firing the painted glass in a kiln.

Stained glass windows are a deliberately dynamic art. Set into panels on exterior walls, the different colors of glass react to the sun by glowing brightly. Then, colored light spills out from the frames and onto the floor and other interior objects in shimmering, dappled pools that shift with the sun. Those characteristics attracted the artists of the Medieval period.

History of Stained Glass Windows

Glass-making was invented in Egypt about 3000 BCE—basically, glass is super-heated sand. Interest in making glass in different colors dates to about the same period. Blue in particular was a prized color in Bronze Age Mediterranean trade in ingot glass.

Putting shaped panes of differently colored glass into a framed window was first used in early Christian churches during the second or third century CE—no examples exist but there are mentions in historical documents. The art may well have been an outgrowth of Roman mosaics, designed floors in elite Roman houses that were made up of squares pieces of rock of different colors. Glass fragments were used to make wall mosaics, such as the famous mosaic at Pompeii of Alexander the Great, which was made primarily of glass fragments. There are early Christian mosaics dated to the 4th century BCE in several places throughout the Mediterranean region.

By the 7th century, stained glass was used in churches throughout Europe. Stained glass also owes a great deal to the rich tradition of illuminated manuscripts, handmade books of Christian scripture or practices, made in Western Europe between about 500–1600 CE, and often decorated in richly colored inks and gold leaf. Some of the 13th century stained glass works were copies of illuminated fables.

How to Make Stained Glass

The process of making glass is described in a few existing 12th-century texts, and modern scholars and restorers have been using those methods to replicate the process since the early 19th century.

To make a stained glass window, the artist makes a full-sized sketch or «cartoon» of the image. The glass is prepared by combining sand and potash and firing it at temperatures between 2,500–3,000°F. While still molten, the artist adds a small amount of one or more metallic oxides. Glass is naturally green, and to get clear glass, you need an additive. Some of the main mixtures were:

• Clear: manganese
• Green or blue-green: copper
• Deep blue: cobalt
• Wine-red or violet: gold
• Pale yellow to deep orange or gold: silver nitrate (called silver stain)
• Grassy green: combination of cobalt and silver stain

The stained glass is then poured into flat sheets and allowed to cool. Once cooled, the artisan lays the pieces onto the cartoon and cracks the glass in rough approximations of the shape using a hot iron. The rough edges are refined (called «grozing») by using an iron tool to chip away the excess glass until the precise shape for the composition is produced.

Next, the edges of each of the panes are covered with «cames,» strips of lead with an H-shaped cross-section; and the cames are soldered together into a panel. Once the panel is complete, the artist inserts putty between the glass and cames to aid in waterproofing. The process can take from a few weeks to many months, depending on the complexity.

Gothic Window Shapes

The most common window shapes in Gothic architecture are tall, spear-shaped «lancet» windows and circular «rose» windows. Rose or wheel windows are created in a circular pattern with panels that radiate outwards. The largest rose window is at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, a massive panel measuring 43 ft in diameter with 84 glass panes that radiate outward from a central medallion.

Medieval Cathedrals

The heyday of stained glass occurred in the European Middle Ages, when guilds of craftsmen produced stained glass windows for churches, monasteries, and elite households. The blossoming of the art in medieval churches is attributed to the efforts of Abbot Suger (ca. 1081–1151), a French abbot at Saint-Denis, now best known as the place where French kings were buried.

About 1137, Abbot Suger began to rebuild the church at Saint-Denis–it had been first built in the 8th century and was sorely in need of reconstruction. His earliest panel was a large wheel or rose window, made in 1137, in the choir (eastern part of the church where the singers stand, sometimes called the chancel). The St. Denis glass is remarkable for its use of blue, a deep sapphire that was paid for by a generous donor. Five windows dated to the 12th century remain, although most of the glass has been replaced.

The diaphanous sapphire blue of Abbot Suger was used in various elements of the scenes, but most significantly, it was used in backgrounds. Prior to the abbot’s innovation, backgrounds were clear, white, or a rainbow of colors. Art historian Meredith Lillich comments that for Medieval clergy, blue was next to black in the color palette, and deep blue contrasts God the «father of lights» as super-light with the rest of us in «divine gloom,» eternal darkness and eternal ignorance.

Medieval Meaning

Gothic cathedrals were transformed into a vision of heaven, a place of retreat from the noise of the city. The portrayed images were mostly of certain New Testament parables, especially the prodigal son and the good Samaritan, and of events in the life of Moses or Jesus. One common theme was the «Jesse Tree,» a genealogical form that connected Jesus as descended from the Old Testament King David.

Abbot Suger began to incorporate stained glass windows because he thought they created a «heavenly light» representing the presence of God. The attraction to the lightness in a church called for taller ceilings and larger windows: it has been argued that architects attempting to put larger windows into cathedral walls in part invented the flying buttress for that purpose. Certainly moving heavy architectural support to the exterior of the buildings opened up cathedral walls to larger window space.

Cistercian Stained Glass (Grisailles)

In the 12th century, the same stained glass images made by the same workers could be found in churches, as well as monastic and secular buildings. By the 13th century, however, the most luxurious were restricted to cathedrals.

The divide between monasteries and cathedrals was primarily of topics and style of stained glass, and that arose because of a theological dispute. Bernard of Clairvaux (known as St. Bernard, ca. 1090–1153) was a French abbot who founded the Cistercian order, a monastic offshoot of the Benedictines that was particularly critical of luxurious representations of holy images in monasteries. (Bernard is also known as the supporter of the Knights Templar, the fighting force of the Crusades.)

In his 1125 «Apologia ad Guillelmum Sancti Theoderici Abbatem» (Apology to William of St. Thierry), Bernard attacked artistic luxury, saying that what may be «excusable» in a cathedral is not appropriate to a monastery, whether cloister or church. He probably wasn’t referring particularly to stained glass: the art form didn’t become popular until after 1137. Nonetheless, the Cistercians believed that using color in images of religious figures was heretical—and Cistercian stained glass was always clear or gray («grisaille»). Cistercian windows are complex and interesting even without the color.

Gothic Revival and Beyond

The heyday of the medieval period stained glass ended about 1600, and after that it became a minor decorative or pictorial accent in architecture, with some exceptions. Beginning in the early 19th century, the Gothic Revival brought old stained glass to the attention of private collectors and museums, who sought restorers. Many small parish churches obtained medieval glasses—for example, between 1804–1811, the cathedral of Lichfield, England, obtained a vast collection of early 16th century panels from the Cistercian convent of Herkenrode.

In 1839, the Passion window of the church of St. Germain l’Auxerrois in Paris was created, a meticulously researched and executed modern window incorporating medieval style. Other artists followed, developing what they considered a rebirth of a cherished art form, and sometimes incorporating fragments of old windows as part of the principle of harmony practiced by Gothic revivalists.

Through the latter part of the 19th century, artists continued to follow a penchant for earlier medieval styles and subjects. With the art deco movement at the turn of the 20th century, artists such as Jacques Grüber were unleashed, creating masterpieces of secular glasses, a practice that still continues today.

17 Homemade Stained Glass Window Plans You Can DIY Easily

Stained-glass windows can add a touch of elegance to any building, and some of the best examples can be truly stunning. The biggest problem for the average homeowner, though, is the cost since they don’t come cheap.

However, if you have some basic DIY skills and a little creative spark, it’s not difficult to make them yourself. To help, we’ve scoured the web to see what other people have been trying – and here are our top 17 stained-glass window plans you can DIY easily.

1. Make an Easy Faux Stained-Glass Window

If you’re looking to make your own high-quality stained-glass window that will look as good as anything you can buy from a store – but that will cost you a whole lot less – this is the plan you need. You will probably have to buy a few materials from your local craft store the first time you try (primarily the glass stain colors), but the outstanding results you will be able to achieve will make the initial outlay worth it. A great plan and well worth a look.

2. Faux Stained Glass Tutorial

Here’s a lively video that takes you through the process of making faux stained glass at home using just some simple items that are easy to find. We enjoyed watching this YouTuber create a large and elaborate design on a sheet of Plexiglas, and as you can see, the result is highly impressive. A great way to make fake stained glass at home at a fraction of the cost of the real thing.

3. How to Make Stained Glass Using 2 Ingredients

This is a very simple plan that allows you to create your own stained glass using only glue and acrylic paint, two inexpensive items you will easily be able to pick up from your local craft store. However, just because it doesn’t cost much, that doesn’t mean it will look cheap. Have a look at the photo of the stained-glass peacock on the site if you want to see what we mean. Amazing!

4. DIY Faux Stained-Glass Farmhouse Vintage Window

As this YouTuber explains, this DIY project takes a while to complete, so if you plan to try it yourself, you will need to arm yourself with a good amount of patience before you start. However, it’s worth persevering because the result is stunning. At the end, she also gives you a couple of tips to avoid some of the problems she encountered – so your version will probably end up looking even better!

5. DIY Faux Stained Glass

When you open this page, the first thing you see is a photo of a beautiful homemade stained-glass window in an attractive modern kitchen, and if that isn’t enough to inspire you to have a go at making some, then nothing will. If you agree – and you want to try – this blog gives you all the information you need. There’s a list of the required supplies, clear instructions – and plenty of photos that will show you what you should be doing. Simple, inexpensive and great fun – and sure to give you stunning results, too.

6. How to Make a Stained-Glass Window

This highly professional video gives you an introduction to the process of making true stained glass. Many home DIYers might prefer something a little simpler, but if you want to learn about making the real thing, this video will teach you how. And even if it’s too complicated for you to try, it’s fascinating to learn about how stained glass is made.

7. DIY Stained-Glass Window

Whenever you need a plan for a DIY project, the Instructables site is always a great place to look. They have hundreds of plans for just about anything you can think of making or building at home, and they always include clear step-by-step instructions, great photos, useful illustrations – and everything else you will need to make a success of the job. This plan for stained-glass windows is no different, so if you want to try making some beautiful creations of your own, check it out!

8. How to Make Leaded Windows and Stained Glass Easily and Cheaply

We’re sure this is a video that will appeal to many people. As the introduction explains, this YouTuber and DIY enthusiast came up with the idea for this project when he moved into a new home and found he didn’t like the front door. He was horrified by the price of buying a new stained-glass door, so he decided to make one himself. And this video documents how it went.

9. DIY Faux Stained Glass At Home With Ashley

In this blog, you’ll find out about how, while renovating her laundry room, this blogger decided to attempt to add a homemade DIY stained-glass transom window. As with all the best plans, there’s a list of the necessary equipment and materials you’ll need as well as some clear instructions. We enjoyed reading the personal anecdotes about the project the blogger includes that make this even more fun and informative. There’s also a useful video showing how the project went.

10. How to Fake Custom Stained Glass with Elmer’s Glue!

It’s always so much fun to discover those little hacks that allow you to create something attractive without needing to spend loads of time or money on the project. If that’s a sentiment you agree with, check out this video on making fake stained glass just using glue.

11. How to Make Stained Glass

Another of our favorite online resources for many fun and funky DIY projects is WikiHow. If you don’t know the site, it has instructions for how to do just about anything you can imagine. Like all the “how-to” plans on this site, this one includes a clear step-by-step guide along with useful illustrations to show what you should be doing throughout the process. We also appreciate the comments section at the end where the WikiHow community can share comments and ideas to help with everyone else’s projects.

12. Recreating Stained Glass with Resin

We love the concept of this YouTube channel. This couple find things they think they can make themselves, produce their own version and compare it with the store-bought alternative. Here, it’s the turn of stained glass vs. their DIY stained glass made from resin. It’s a fascinating watch, and we also enjoyed their enthusiasm and passion for the task.

13. A Stained-Glass Window that Hangs on the Wall

This plan is for an project that could be used to fill a bare space on a wall. These DIYers made this stained-glass window that is designed to be hung up, and we think it makes a striking addition to their home. As well as looking great, it also cost them very little, so if you are looking for an inexpensive way to create a beautiful decorative element for a wall, have a look to find out how they did it.

14. DIY Faux Stained-Glass Window

Here’s another fun idea for a YouTube channel – these DIYers specialize in doing makeovers on college dorm rooms, turning them from soulless digs to cozy and welcoming places to live and study. In this video, they make a fake stained-glass window – give it a watch to see how they manage it.

15. DIY Stained Glass by Dorrie

The title of this tutorial is a little misleading since it doesn’t show you how to make stained glass – not in the sense of glass with colors, anyway. Here, what you can learn to make is patterned glass, which, as the blogger explains, was her solution for french doors that she found were constantly covered in kiddies’ fingerprints. We thought she did a great job, too, so we thought it was worthy of a place on our list. What do you think?

16. Poor Man’s Stained Glass for My Front Door

This video is a little strange since there’s no sound apart from the noise of the brushstrokes. There’s no commentary or music, which makes it slightly unnerving. However, we still wanted to include it because it shows this DIYer completing an impressive project making a stained-glass window, and for much less than the real thing would cost. Just for this reason, it’s well worth a look.

17. DIY Stained-Glass Windows from Four Items

Some of the best DIY plans work well because they keep things simple and uncomplicated. If that sounds like the kind of thing you appreciate, this blog should be of interest – it provides a plan and instructions for homemade stained-glass windows that you can make with only four basic items. There are also only four steps to follow, and in no time, you’ll have a set of attractive stained-glass windows of your own.

Loads of great ideas for you to try at home

As you can see, the internet is full of great suggestions for how to make stained glass at home, and many of these plans yield some exceptional results.

We always love looking at other people’s ideas because it always inspires us to have a go too. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading and watching these plans as much as we did finding them, and above all, we hope you’ve found lots of inspiration for your next DIY project.