Cathedral glass

Art and religion are creations of the human brain (Martin 1). The brain uses the power of imagination to envision a past and a future, and the brain creates fantasies to fill in where the facts confound understanding (1). According to Claudia Martin, writer of The Intimate Relationship between Art and Religion: Human value systems have their roots in our emotional brain centers; both art and religion are deeply tied in with the emotional centers of the human brain stem in their quest to find…

Cathedrals have always been a part of religion. “A cathedral is a large church where a bishop has his seat” (Lehmberg 3). There are many different types of cathedrals out there. The two that really stand out are the monastic and secular Cathedrals. Although the monastic and secular cathedrals originated from the same idea, they had their own beliefs to uphold. “The monastic cathedrals were priories” (Lehmberg 262). This meant that it was governed by rich prominent men such as chief…

It is not uncommon for cathedrals in the Byzantine Empire to be used as status of prosperity and power, rather than being solely places of worship. San Vitale is known for the incredible mosaics that create a focus on Justinian, Theodora, and other political figures which make it more of a glorification of the emperor than a religious building. How much decadence and lavishness is acceptable before the focus of this church becomes more about paying respects to the people in power in the time it…

The South Window of Canterbury Cathedral has long been one of the largest and eldest stained glass windows in existence. A factor that has had an impact on the ongoing restoration process is the high content of potassium oxide in the glass. Its presence renders the window more susceptible to the damages caused by pollutants. This study aims to analyze the making and restoration of the South Window of Canterbury Cathedral in relation to the potassium oxide that contributed to its deterioration.…

During the middle ages cathedrals’ majestic architecture reflected the financial and political powers of the catholic church. First, the purpose of the cathedrals aside from worshiping for religion was to provide surplus income for borrowing money, availability for trade and contain tombs of kings. In 1226 Henry the third borrowed jewels belonging to the shrine of St. Edward and made a promise to return the valuables within a year. The medieval cathedrals were notable for their supply of raw…

Saron Hunegnaw Washington National Cathedral Sunday morning, 1945, a foggy morning service was begining at The Washington National Cathedral. This is significant because the deceased corpses of World War Two soldiers are returning home for a proper burial. As a consequence widows, heart-broken mothers, and fatherless children line up to enter The National House of Prayer. Nevertheless Nationalism Grips Europe, and sorrow spreads across the United…

Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith shows a distinction between spiritual reality and organized religion in her poem “Cathedral Kitsch”. She was raised Fairfield, California. She was born into a religious family and was the youngest out of five children. Her mother was very involved in the church and the community, while her father was an electronics engineer. After the death of her mother she began to question everything. In an interview with Poets and Writers she said “She struggles to understand…

One of the most interesting things about architecture is how the cultural ideas of a certain time period shape architectural form. Culture reflects the ideals and the entire way of life of a group of people. As cultural ideas change over time, so do the buildings that go with it. While there are broad periods where many cultures had a set of shared beliefs, each region had its own twist on the physical interpretation of those values. Romanesque architecture emerged from a time of religion…

To generalize, the Romanesque church is supported by flat expanses of wall, arched over thick, heavy columns, and perforated with small stained glass windows. Although stained glass is used, it is in small amounts and the light that enters generally draws the eye towards the apse of the church, highlighting the altar. For example, the Cathedral St. James has an lantern tower above the crossing, shedding light onto the altar and the relic of Saint James. Pointed arches, ribbed groin vaults, and…

also known as the region around France. This region held great wealth allowing great cathedrals to be built. Cathedrals held the main principles of gothic art with its tall and strong presence, large pillars, and tremendous interior design. The main appeal of the inside were the apses, which were large semicircular recess in a church with a domed roof at the eastern end of the church. More details include stained glass windows, arches, monumental doorways, and…