Artheon MuseumArtheonMuseum

Fragment

Unknown Artist

late 14th century

Fragment by Unknown Artist

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 ...

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