Stained Glass. 13 



composition cannot possibly be appreciated or understood if it be 

 thought of as a picture. 



Nothing is more striking in ancient glass than the evidence it 

 affords of the primitive worker's grasp of the essential conditions 

 of his art. To him nothing was so priceless as the inherent 

 beauty of the glass itself. All his efforts were directed to bring 

 out the glorious colours of which the material is capable. Window 

 decoration was the object he aimed at — never the making of glass 

 pictures. 



Probably the oldest glass to which a definite date can be 

 assigned is to be found in Le Mans Cathedral ; but very early 

 windows are to be seen almost everywhere on the Continent 

 (more especially in France), as well as in some of the English 

 Cathedrals. By far the finest ancient glass in existence is in the 

 Cathedrals of Chartres and Bourges ; but the student can begin 

 his studies much nearer home. York Minster contains not only 

 a fine example of ancient Grisaille in the famous " Five Sisters " 

 window, but almost the whole field of glass painting from the 

 XIII. to the XVI. centuries is to be found there. Wells Cathedral 

 contains an exquisite "Jesse" window of late XIII. or early XIV. 

 century work, and beautiful XIII. century glass is to be found in 

 Lincoln Cathedral. XVI. century glass may be conveniently 

 studied in the Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral, Fairford 

 Church (Oxfordshire), and King's College Chapel, Cambridge. 



But however fascinating the study of ancient glass may be, it 

 must never be forgotten that if the art is to be rekindled into 

 life in our midst, this can only be effected by encouraging the 

 modern craftsman to put whatever individuality he is possessed 

 of into his workmanship. When all is said, the modern worker 

 has many advantages over his primitive rival. He has a much 

 larger range of coloured glass to choose from, and his draught- 

 manship is incomparably superior. Given a subject suitable to 

 the situation of his window, he is without excuse if he fails to 

 produce an effecting work of art. 



Anyone who is inclined to despair of the future of stained glass 



