Chartres Cathedral Stained Glass Windows Facts

The windows are in an excellent state of conservation and currently undergoing an active restoration phase to return them to their original splendour.

Chartres cathedral stained glass windows facts.

Chartres cathedral was rebuilt in 1194 after a near devastating fire and the stained glass created from between c 1200 1240. The stained glass windows of chartres cathedral are held to be one of the best preserved and most complete set of medieval stained glass notably celebrated for their colours especially their cobalt blue. Restorations have been carried out continuously since the 14th century with important campaigns in the 19th and 20th centuries including that undertaken by nicolas coffetier with the assistance of louis charles auguste steinheil. Chartres cathedral is home to the largest collection of preserved medieval stained glass windows in the world.

Chartres cathedral stained glass. With the exception of the romanesque lancets of the west façade and the window of notre dame de la belle verrière reset in the south choir most of the glazing of the 176 windows was accomplished between around 1200 and 1235. Chartres cathedral contains 176 stained glass windows the feature for which it may be best known. Chartres windows are unique in the sense that a stained glass window became the object of devotion something that is normally reserved for statues or other objects not windows architectural design mosaics before on floor when depicting christ moved to walls and ceiling so not stepping on christ architectural design.

Dating from the early 13th century chartres cathedral s glass largely escaped harm during the religious wars of the 16th century. The 167 stained glass windows of chartres cathedral built 1190 1220 ce are the most complete group surviving anywhere from the middle ages. The five windows of the choir hemicycle a semicircular arrangement relate in various ways to the virgin mary. Unlike most other cathedrals it has never been extensively rebuilt and has retained 80 per cent of its original stained glass.

Chartres cathedral is already unique in several ways. Several windows date to the mid 12th century ce while over 150 survive from the early 13th century ce. There are 176 stained glass windows. New developments in architecture meant bigger windows and boy did they capitalise on that.

Chartres cathedral the medieval stained glass. To view details of individual windows click one of the enabled bay numbers in the diagram below or one the captions below right. It is said to constitute one of the most complete collections of medieval stained glass in the world. It was completed in just 30 years.

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