[Decorative glazed panel inspired by images from the 17th century polymath Athanasius Kircher's book Mundus Subterraneous.] [art original] /
Onwin, Glen.
Kircher, Athanasius,1602-1680.Mundus subterraneus.
[Scotland],
[1988?]
An art original.
Statement by the artist: The sources of the images that I have used for the window are illustrations from the 17th century polymath Athanasius Kircher's book "The Subterranean World" ("Mundus Subterraneous"). The book was inspired by a visit Kircher made to Sicily in 1637-38 where he became fascinated by vulcanism, but the content of the book itself ranges from gravity to fireworks and takes in most of the natural sciences. The window is based on four images/illustrations from this book. One face of the glass represents Mundus Subterraneus while the reverse represents the sun, Solaris.
One of a series of twelve decorative glazed panels which were previously arranged on levels 3 to 7 of the north facade of the National Library of Scotland's Causewayside Building. A group of Scottish artists were commissioned to create these panels which were then incorporated into the building which opened in 1988. The artists represented are Barbara Rae, Elizabeth Blackadder, Gordon Bryce, John Houston, William Littlejohn, Frances Walker, Glen Onwin, William Crosbie, Michael Docherty, Charles Pulsford, Ian McKenzie Smith and George Donald.
Glass painting and staining
Glass art