We have always heard about Belgian glasses, somewhat in tune of- neighbour’s envy, owner’s pride! But once you are in Belgium, you realise the actual beauty of glasses in Belgium. Specially the stained glass windows of its churches. Most of them are actually piece of art. Few of them have been actually painted by top artists of their times. All of them have historical, architectural value. Actually until medieval times, churches had been the prominent patrons of the art. Many renowned painters did their all well-known works for the church. That’s the reason churches in Europe still preserve many those artefacts and hence they are major source of attraction for tourists.
Yasmine Hafiz from Huffington Post had once written, “When stepping into a holy place, our eyes seek the light. If we’re lucky, the light will be shining through a stained glass window, adding illumination and beauty at once. Stained glass windows tell stories, educate and inspire”.
So lets seek inspiration from these beautiful windows.
These (below) are windows from Basilica of the Holy Blood in Central Plaza of Brugge. This church is famous for the crystal vial kept here which is said to contain a drop of Christ’s blood. More about the church later, as here I am focusing only on stained glass windows. The painting on these glass windows will be often reflecting a story or a legend from Bible.
The image below is of a window at the Church of Our Lady in Bruges. This church is famous for its sublime marble sculpture by Michelangelo, Madonna and Child. More about this sculpture later.
These three images below are from windows of Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent city of Belgium. Again this church is well know for Ghent Altarpiece, about which, we will talk later.
And this one if from Saint James Church in Ghent, which was built in 12th century on the former location of a chapel.
Few other from a chapel in Ghent-
This one below is from Cathedral of our lady in Antwerp, Belgium. This church is also well known for famous painting by Peter Paul Rubens, Raising of the Cross.
Finally a look at the capital city, Brussels. These are windows from Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula in Brussels. A Romanesque church was built here in 11th century in place of a 9th century chapel.
Doctor Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the mind behind the theory of the five stages of grief, once wrote: “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within”.
beautiful! Art is what sustains us…
Indeed. Thanks a lot!
I am always a fan of stained glass art and what you have shared is incredible!
They are beautiful, isn’t it! Thanks a lot Rashmi.
Beautiful. I love stained glass art.
Here they are themselves pieces of art!