Glass Fragment
Unknown Artist
12th–14th century
Medium
Pot-metal glass, vitreous paint
Dimensions
Overall: 4 1/2 x 13/16 in. (11.5 x 2 cm)
Classification
Glass-Stained
Culture
French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Ella Brummer, in memory of her husband, Ernest Brummer, 1977
Accession Number
1977.346.22
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass fragment, dating from the 12th to 14th century, offers a glimpse into the radiant world of medieval French stained glass. Crafted in the Medieval Art tradition, it hails from France during the Gothic era, when vast cathedral windows transformed sunlight into storytelling spectacles of biblical scenes, saints, and virtues. Though only a small piece measuring 4½ x 13/16 inches (11.5 x 2 cm), it survives as a testament to the artistry that once illuminated sacred spaces like Chartres or Notre-Dame. The fragment's medium—pot-metal glass combined with vitreous paint—highlights ...