Glass Fragment
Unknown Artist
12th–14th century
Medium
Pot-metal glass, vitreous paint
Dimensions
Overall: 5 1/4 x 4 in. (13.3 x 10.2 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
1977.346.28
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass fragment, dating from the 12th to 14th century, hails from medieval France and exemplifies the exquisite stained glass artistry that illuminated Gothic cathedrals and churches. Crafted during a golden age of religious architecture, such fragments were once part of grand narrative windows depicting biblical scenes, saints, or moral allegories, transforming sunlight into vibrant storytelling. Though the exact origin—likely a abbey or cathedral—is unknown, it reflects the era's devotion to divine light as a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment. The medium, pot-metal glass com...