On Site: Chagall Windows at Zurich's Fraumünster Church

Section of “The Christ Window”, one of five Chagall windows depicting Biblical interpretations at Fraumünster Church in Zurich, Switzerland; Courtesy: flickr/@jay8085

We recently took a trip to Switzerland where, between chocolate and cheese, we managed to squeeze in a visit to Fraumünster Church in Zurich’s Old Town. Our reason for the visit was to see first-hand the beautiful stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.

The green spire belongs to Fraumünster Church. You can see the Chagall windows to the left of the spire, like three fingers. Lucas Glass Design + Restoration

Built on the remains of a 9th century abbey, Fraumünster means Women’s Minister. It’s location came to be when two princess sisters witnessed a white stag with burning antlers. When their father, the king, refused to believe them, a piece rope fell from the sky in precisely the location of the future abbey. The green-spired church was augmented over the centuries, including the addition of five windows and a rosette by Marc Chagall.(1)

The church is open to visitors for a small fee that can be applied toward entry to Zurich’s Kunsthaus. Unfortunately, at the time of our trip, visitors were not allowed to take pictures inside the church.

The overcast skies created a light box effect for the windows which meant there were no shadows or hot spots, allowing the full impact of Chagall’s brilliance.

Three of five Chagall windows depicting Biblical interpretations at Fraumünster Church in Zurich, Switzerland; Courtesy: flickr/@jay8085

We previously reflected on Chagall’s windows in other installations and this one at Fraumünster Church does not disappoint. Chagall is most renowned for painting and illustration but he also delved into the medium of stained glass, and in fact utilized a very detailed process for achieving his particular glass aesthetic. Chagall created works in glass for both Jewish and Christian institutions evoking his mystical and evocative imagery in this historic medium.

The experience of seeing the glass in real life was, as you can imagine, much different than seeing it in a picture. However seeing his work in any way possible is the name of the game, even if it’s just on a screen.

The five windows convey the following stories(2):

The Prophet’s Window, with Elijah carried away to heaven
The Law Window in which Moses holds the commandments while overseeing disobedience among his people
The Jacob Window, with Jacob dreaming of the ladder
The Zion Window, depicting King David and the descent of Jerusalem from heaven to earth
The Christ Window, illustrating the life of Jesus

Prior to Chagall undertaking the project, restoration of the church chancel had already begun along with the idea to install colored glass in the five windows.(2) Yet the congregation was unable to find a suitable artist. Soon thereafter in 1967 the nearby Kunsthaus featured an exhibition of Chagall’s work. Was it serendipity? Enough congregants had personally witnessed other Chagall stained glass devotionals to see the possibility. Once the artist himself experienced the church interior he was sold.

As with previous projects, Chagall partnered with Charles Marq to execute the process of coloring, firing, assembling, painting, re-firing, caning, and installing the glass artwork. Labor intensive to say the least, Chagall was 83 years old when he undertook the endeavor. And as with the artist, the process produced a depth like no other.

Reference:

https://www.ancient.eu/Fraumunster/
“Chagall’s Windows in the Fraumünster” by Irmgard Vogelsanger-de Roche

Stained Glass Meditation at the National Cathedral

Feeling stressed out? Just a few minutes watching this beautiful stained glass time lapse inside the Washington National Cathedral will soothe your soul and put you at ease. Enjoy!

Marc Chagall's Devotionals in Stained Glass

We could not talk about church glass without highlighting the work of Marc Chagall. More recognized for his paintings and illustrations, Chagall also delved into the medium of stained glass late in his life. Known as the world's "quintessential Jewish artist", Chagall created works of modernist art glass for both Jewish and Christian institutions, employing his dreamy style and the contents of his own imagination to translate religious themes. If you are already familiar with Chagall's mystical and evocative imagery you will understand how his devotional work could be so triumphant.

"To me, stained glass is the transparent wall between my heart and the world’s. Stained glass is uplifting, it requires gravity and passion. It must come alive through the light it receives. The Bible is light already, and stained glass should make this obvious through grace and simplicity." Marc Chagall

Some of his more famous installations include windows for Reims cathedral, Metz cathedral, and the Hadassah Medical Center. Images for all three are depicted below.

Reims Cathedral Windows | flickr/Craig Nichols

Metz Cathedral Detail (Eve) | flickr/onnola

Hadassah Medical Center Window (Tribe of Levi) | Wikipedia/Mrbrefast

In this vintage film you can see actual footage of a Chagall installation as well as the man himself painting the Tribe of Levi window that is shown above. It's really so stunning!

The technique Chagall uses in the footage is called grisaille in which black enamel paint is applied to the glass to make monochromatic images. Before painting, however, Chagall's long-time collaborator in glass, Charles Marc, employed a technique of acid etching on flashed glass causing the subtle gradiations of hue and translucence in nearly every pane. The level of skill here was so advanced that the glass appears painted with watercolors. From there, Marc assembled the panes with lead cane in asymmetrical and seemingly randomized lines that both delineate and intersect the windows’ imagery. Then the windows were built and Chagall was given reign to paint using brushes and his fingers. Once that step was complete the windows were dismantled and the panes kiln-fired to fuse the paint to the glass. Finally, the windows were reassembled, puttied, and installed.

An interesting if somewhat maddening story can be read here about a break-in at the Metz cathedral that caused damage to a portion of Chagall's Adam & Eve window.

Chagall did not stick solely to religious commissions. His "America Windows" at the Chicago Art Institute are secular and very notable examples. But are they not also devotional? To know the answer requires knowing Chagall the man.

Born in Belarus in the late 1800's, Chagall was raised by an observant Hasidic Jewish family and suffered waves of pogroms in his childhood. By the start of WWII he was an established artist living in France. When the Nazis took power in Germany, as with other modernists, his work was labeled degenerate and confiscated. Once France became occupied territory Chagall and his family were forced to flee to the United States using forged visas.

“America Windows” were completed just in time for the United States’ bicentennial and serve as a love letter to his adopted nation. Using selective imagery of Chicago’s culture and landmarks along with classic American motifs, Chagall expresses his devotion to our nation’s higher ideals of creativity, diversity, inclusion, and religious freedom.

The video below discusses not only the significance of the “America Windows” but also matters of conservation, restoration, and the original processes followed by Chagall and Marc for all their stained glass projects.

Reference:

Restoration Planning for Stained Glass Church Windows

A church or house of worship can be a sizable restoration project that may even seem insurmountable. Many houses of worship have numerous stained glass windows that are 80+ years old with bowing, sagging lead and broken or cracked glass. Not to mention the grime and paint that have likely encroached the windows over time. At some point these assets must absolutely be preserved or unfortunately replaced with a less expensive, less inspired option.

However, there are manageable ways to go about both the funding and execution of a restoration. A little strategic planning can go a long way toward controlling costs. On the topic of raising capital, we stumbled on this interview with an experienced fundraiser. The article includes a host of both prudent and creative techniques for raising asset preservation funds.

And if you are in no rush to complete the project you can prioritize the windows in most need of restoration and pay as you go. Staging the project in this way does not diminish the quality of work. We can help determine prioritization and draft an execution plan that meshes with your budget and ability to raise funds. We will be your partner in assuring an affordable, quality outcome to last another 80-100 years. We’d love to help bring your stained glass windows back to their original beauty and to delight and inspire your congregants. Contact us for an on-site consultation.