36 ON COLOUR. Paet I. 



painted windows in their churches, still the direct evidence of 

 Theophilus suffices to establish their prior claim to the use of 

 painted glass, as well as to the manufacture of painted glass 

 vases, for which they were celebrated at the same period.* 

 Our not finding painted windows in Byzantine churches may 

 also be explained by the fact of their walls having been 

 generally decorated with coloured subjects, whose effect would 

 have been impaired by the coloured windows ; still, this does 

 not disprove an acquaintance with coloured glass, or even its 

 occasional use in these and other buildings ; as the absence of 

 the arch from the temples of Egypt does not disprove its inven- 

 tion in that country, or its frequent employment in houses and 

 tombs. The extent of the claim which is to be conceded to the 

 French is their having generally introduced it into churches; 

 and though the first idea of burning in the colours was derived 

 from the same source whence the composition of the simple 

 stained window was obtained, this honour of priority may be 

 accorded to the Byzantine Greeks without detracting from 

 the merit due to the French of having been the first to 

 bring the art of painted glass to a perfection which the 

 Greeks could never have attained. The glory of Italy in the 

 art of painting has not been diminished by the fact of her 

 having been indebted to Byzantine models ; and France may 

 well be satisfied in having carried glass-painting to perfection, 

 and in having been the first to give it that brilliancy which 

 constitutes the merit of this beautiful art. 



26. The main point to which it is my object to direct atten- 

 tion is the choice of style in coloured windows ; and the one 

 which should be selected for our study and imitation is cer- 

 tainly the mosaic glass of the 1200. It is true that the glass 

 of the next century (the 1300) was often richer in colour; 

 but the question now relates to the arrangement of colours 



* The Greeks established this manufactory at Damascus also ; and painted 

 glass vases from Syria may still be seen in some of the mosks in Cairo. 



