Stained Glass Tours in England

Stained Glass Tours in England

The errand of a window seems always to have been that of beauty, although it has more than one way of performing that service. Sometimes it seems to have chosen the inspiring manner of recalling ancient wars, as would appear from the Dreme of Chaucer: Sometimes the errand is that of beauty alone, so mystic, wonderful, as to make it seem that magic [Pg 4]was invoked to yield so fair a result. In his Earthly Paradise Morris voices this feeling: Again, the errand of the window may have been not so much that of a story-teller, nor of a beautiful object to regale ones eyes withal, but rather to tint and temper the illumination of some holy place like that described in the Lay of the Last Minstrel (Canto XI.): Beyond the enjoyment and artistic refreshment to be obtained from the contemplation of stained glass, who shall say that we do not receive other benefits, the nature of which are as yet undiscovered? It is only recently that our learned brothers, the scientists, have acquainted us with the helpful qualities of those [Pg 5]rays of light which, in the language of the spectrum, are out beyond the violet. In this connection, it may be edifying to quote from the Anecdotes and Traditions of Aubrey: The curious oriental reds, yellows, blews, and greens in glasse-painting, especially when the sun shines, doe much refresh the spirits. After this manner did Dr. R. revive the spirits of a poor distracted gentleman, for whereas his former physitian shutt up his windows and kept him in utter darknesse, he did open his window lids, and let in the light, and filled his windows with glasses of curious tinctures, which the distempered person would always be looking on, and it did conduce to the quieting of his disturbed spirits. (Aubrey in Anecdotes and Traditions, edited for the Camden Society by W. J. Thomas, p. 96.) ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 34818
Author: Sherrill, Charles Hitchcock
Release Date: Jan 2, 2011
Format: eBook
Language: English