Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-16

lighter colors were employed to re-
place the deeper tones which were
characteristic of the earlier windows.
They did not now depend so much for
their splendor upon the glaciers craft
as in former times. when design
from potmetal glass could be augu-
mented by paint, but rather had they
come to fall into the hands of the
painter who made use of glazing to
get more color into his design Now
also for the first time. lead began to
be looked upon as a blemish. rather
than as a necessary part of his more
delicate work, and It's use was avoid
ed as much as possible.
Technical ability was brought to a.
high state of development during this
period, and the artist became an ac-
complished draftsman-a master of his
particular craft. The work of this
later Gothic period showed beautiful
drawing and delicate coloring, parti-
cularly in the modelling of flesh and
the selecting of glass became quite
factor in producing certain effects.
which the artist was quick to seize
upon-those pieces which possessed &C
| cidental variations of color. Many
| interesting spotted, shaded and varie-
gated specimens came from the melt
| ing pot which readily fulfilled a GER
i tain need.
Out of this period emerged that OF
/ the Renaissance, when painting be-
/ came the dominant note-not employ
ed to define form or to accentuate de-
! tail any longer but to proclaim color
in it's own name Naturally. much of
the luminous, translucent color of pot
metal glass was lost, that quality
which gives ii its charm, and 1t be-
came by this newer method merely
transparent surface upon which TO lay
pigment
However, these Renaissance painters
were doing something new in their
own particular way, and many of their
| productions were superb. 1t is futile
TO compare the finished workmanship
of this period with that of the naive
craft of the 18th century. There is
little in common between them except
that the medium of both is glass, and
ones sympathy lies either with the
glazier or the painter. according to
ones taste for painting or pure dec
grafton The 18th century also estab-
lished the use Of enameling, which
was now accepted as color as well as
used to blot out light. After the mid
die of this century more and more OF
the luminous quality of pure glass was
sacrificed, until the following hundred
years found it a thing of the past.
and this period marks the decadence
of this interesting art.
Much of the tradition Of the ancient
craft was lost, to be rejuvenated to-
day At present. the old secrets have
been brought to light again, and
through improved mechanical devices,
many of the technical difficulties are
more easily overcome, and the mod
ern artist makes use OF all the known
processes and their combinations, 10
get the effect for which he Is striving.
He accepts the beauty OF pot-metal
glass which has the same color all
through and which is so vibrant ana
luminous, when 1t fulfills his need, OF
ne uses flash glass, which is sheet
of white or colored glass, upon which
a thin film of colored glass has been
fused.
Ancient glass possesses more uh-
even texture at times to be greatly
desired-and is eagerly sought Tor, De
Ing softer in color. For time has
suieted It's tone. either by exposure 10
Weather or by adding film OF dust or
cobwebs to its surface, whose remoNal
would but decrease its beauty.
Stained glass is an art connected SO
Intimately with the church that II nat
nraIlv followed the ecclesiastical for
tunes and it grew and prospered ae-
cordingly. 1t is the art of the Middle
Ages and knowledge of its history ana
traditions resolves itself almost en-
tirely TO the study of church windows.
Philadelphia Record.