Fragment
Unknown Artist
late 14th century
Medium
Pot-metal glass and vitreous paint
Dimensions
5 13/16 × 4 3/4 × 3/16 in. (14.8 × 12 × 0.4 cm)
Classification
Glass-Stained
Culture
French or British
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George D. Pratt, 1930
Accession Number
30.73.86
Art Historical Context
This delicate stained glass fragment, dating to the late 14 century, hails from either France or Britain during the height of the Gothic era. Likely salvaged from a grand cathedral, it exemplifies medieval artistry designed to transform sunlight into vibrant narratives. In an age when most people couldn't read, such windows served as "poor man's Bibles," illuminating biblical scenes, saints, and moral lessons for worshippers below. Though only a small piece measuring about 6 by 4 inches remains, it whispers of the splendor once enjoyed in soaring ecclesiastical spaces. Crafted from pot-metal ...