Stained glass windows in The Church of the Holy Trinity
One of the first things I notice when I step into a church (albeit, rarely), are the colorful stained glass windows. In almost every church in NYC, you can bet on one or two stained glass windows. Art is very prominent in religion which is proved with keen detail in the architecture of the churches and in past paintings and sculptures based on biblical passages. Stained glass windows were considered less art and as the world’s first picture books. Since most people could not read the Bible, the church painted the biblical stories on the windows to teach and spread their message.
In the Church of the Holy Trinity, there are 17 stained glass windows and they were all designed by one man, Henry Holiday of England. This is one of the few churches in which all its windows possessed one unique style of one man. Obsessed with colorful costumes and dramatic situations, Holiday set out to give a biblical narrative through his work. With his contribution, Holiday has made the windows one of the most prominent features of the famous church.
Hey Stella!
Stained glass windows are extremely intriguing and beautiful! I generally knew about these significant religious artworks before but I haven’t really given much thought about them because I am not Christian, and so, haven’t ever actually been inside a church. I have been studying these works in my Honors Art History class however, and they truly are beautiful as they are able to tell stories throughout the different frames. Also, your comment about how they were made to spread the message if people could not read relates to my studies as well. During the middle ages, many people were illiterate, and so the poorer, lower class would come to church and be able to learn Biblical stories from word of mouth and the stained glass. Indeed these artworks vividly did portray the religious stories and sent messages to the followers.