Most Beautiful Stained Glass Windows, From Ancient Classics to Modern Marvels

Working in solid, non-bendable but highly breakable glass would not seem like a very versatile craft. But through the ages, master craftsman have done an absolutely astounding array of styles and forms using glass as their medium. Many of these stained glass windows rank right up there with the world’s most famed paintings in terms of timeless beauty and artistic mastery.

On the popular social site Quora, we came across someone asking,“What and where are the most beautiful stained glass windows in the world?” Different people offered photos of their choices, and others voted on their favorites. As stained glass artists and historians, we were frankly delighted to see this amount of interest in stained glass art.

Many of the “nominated” stained glass works are truly classics, masterpieces even, so we are thrilled to see the interest and respect for these works of fine art.

We were not surprised that the windows which received the most votes from viewers were that of Sainte Chapelle, in Paris. This mid-13th century gothic chapel is the only building remaining of the Capetian royal palace. It was designed and constructed to give the appearance of walls of stained glass, and the photos of it are quite spectacular. Here are some more photos of this architectural wonder.

Although in olden times, churches used stained glass windows to tell biblical tales, today modern stained glass artists are using stained glass to tell modern tales of equal importance to their culture, such as the striking “Windows of Hope” at the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda.

The photos people posted on this page are quite amazing, showcasing both ancient and modern stained glass of a wide array of styles. One that we particularly liked was a stunning glass portrait of a horse, done by the artist Marc Chagall. This piece is currently on display at the MuséesNationaux duXXe Siècle des Alpes-Maritimes in France. There is also a spectacular Prairie Style piece, Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers, loaded withvivid color and intricate detail. This stained glass window was part of Wright’s organic design of the famed Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. See another photo of this panel, a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanenglish/6717554375/” target=”_blank”>here.

If you like the look of Prairie Style stained glass, or any other style, you can work with a Scottish Stained Glass designer to have a custom stained glass window done in that style. Over the years we have done hundreds of Wright inspired stained glass, along with pieces inspired by Greene and Greene and many other influences.

We hope looking at all these lovely photos has opened up your idea of what stained glass can be. If you can imagine it, we can build it! Contact us today for more information or to get an estimate on stained glass art for your home, church or commercial space.