Glass Fragment
Unknown Artist
12th–14th century
Medium
Pot-metal glass, vitreous paint
Dimensions
Overall: 1 7/8 x 2 1/2 inch (4.8 x 6.4 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
1977.346.27
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass fragment, dating to France's 12th–14th centuries, offers a glimpse into the luminous world of medieval stained glass. a remnant from a grand church window, it exemplifies the era's masterful use of light as a spiritual tool, transforming cathedrals into glowing narratives of faith. Though the full scene is lost, its small scale—barely two inches wide—highlights the precision required for such intricate designs, common in Gothic and late Romanesque architecture. Crafted from pot-metal glass, where metallic oxides were fused into the molten glass for vibrant, translucent col...