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CHURCH WINDOW GLASS
N
these days of universal travel, the intelligent study of church window
glass adds a new pleasure to the excursions of those who travel by motor
or cycle, as well as of those who go by rail. For churches are to be found
almost everywhere, and every church affords the pleasure of the chase to
any one who makes a practice of going inside to study the windows. Not
only is it delightful to discover a fresh store of old glass, but it is also
extremely interesting to endeavor to assign the glass to its proper period,
and to examine whether it is in its original place, and if so, whether all
the glass is old, or how much has been restored. Furthermore, it is a
pleasant pastime to try to understand the pictures and their subjects, and
to decide upon their artistic merit. Even if the glass be new, the colors,
the subjects and the treatment supply much food for reflection. And if the
new windows are not good, there is a certain satisfaction in criticizing
them and finding our reasons why they are less pleasing than other new
windows. Lastly, there is gradually formed in the memory a store of
windows which can be compared with others, and from that comparison a
standard of excellence can be deduced which will greatly increase the
power both of enjoyment and criticism.
One caution, however, is needful at the outset.
To examine church windows with any satisfaction it is absolutely necessary
to be provided with a good field-glass. For there are comparatively few
old windows so placed that they can be thoroughly well seen with the naked
eye. When the field-glass is directed towards "clearstory" windows (the
highest windows of a church), it is realized at once how indispensable
an adjunct it is to the enjoyment of fine old glass. Another very useful
recommendation is to examine the glass from the outside, for this will
often determine the question whether the glass is old or new, because the
outside of old glass is generally covered with a whitish patina, like a
thin coat of dirty white-wash, and it often has a number of little
hemispherical pits on the surface as if it had suffered from smallpox.
Moreover, it is wise, if possible, to visit the same windows in the
forenoon, the afternoon and the evening, because they look very different
according as the sun is or is not shining through them.
| A. J. DE HAVILLAND BUSHNELL |
THE MENTOR
ASSOCIATION
ESTABLISHED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POPULAR INTEREST IN
ART, LITERATURE, MUSIC, SCIENCE, HISTORY, NATURE, and TRAVEL
THE MENTOR IS PUBLISHED TWICE A MONTH
BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC., AT 114-116 EAST 16th STREET,
NEW YORK, N.Y.
SUBSCRIPTION, FOUR DOLLARS A YEAR. FOREIGN POSTAGE 75 CENTS
EXTRA. CANADIAN POSTAGE 50 CENTS EXTRA. SINGLE COPIES TWENTY CENTS.
PRESIDENT, THOMAS H. BECK; VICE-PRESIDENT, WALTER P. TEN EYCH; SECRETARY,
W. D. MOFFAT; TREASURER, J. S. CAMPBELL; ASSISTANT TREASURER AND ASSISTANT
SECRETARY, H. A. CROWE.
| DECEMBER 1, 1919 |
VOLUME 7 |
NUMBER 20 |
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