The stained glass art has been in use for as long as glass has been a part of architecture. It is believed that the basic techniques of this art form as we know them today first came into existence in the 5th and 6th centuries.
Some of these pieces of art can still be found in modern museums and archaeological galleries. The earliest form of stained glass art consisted of thin pieces of alabaster that were combined inside a wooden frame to achieve the same effect that stained glass achieves currently. This was before the creation of colored glass became possible.
The invention of stained glass
Advancements in Chemistry in the later years of the 11th Century enabled people to make colored panes of glass. This was done through the mixing of a given amount of metallic oxide into molten glass in order to give the glass the desired colors and hues. Evidence of such colored glass is found in archaeological artifacts from Rome, Egypt and the ancient Greek region. They reveal that these communities were renowned experts in stained glass art from the earliest years of civilization. The modern stained glass as we know it was however first manufactured by Asians.
Early applications
The early applications of stained glass art include the windows of gothic structures and church buildings. It should be noted that above providing the colored light effect within the structure, the stained glass art was a form of concealing the activities that happened inside these buildings by dousing the light. You should also note that the earliest themes and purposes for stained glass were rarely for beauty or aesthetics. Stained glass art was used in creating and depicting biblical themes, symbolism and some of the art pieces were inspired by ancient myths and the different forms of literature that existed at the time. Examples of such inspirations include scenes of Jesus Christ in many church windows.
Present time
While the creation of the original forms of stained glass art required true artistic skill and genius on top of great experience, these have greatly been transformed by modern technology. Before the 20th Century, only talented people who had the right amount of engineering and artistic skill could design the themes for stained glass windows. But most of these pieces of art were destroyed in the 21st century wars and the cultural changes that have been happening drastically over the years.
The future of the art
Currently, there are very few schools where one can study the traditional forms of stained glass art. This is because the making of such glass is no longer considered an art form but an interior design accessory made purely for aesthetic purposes. There are now many websites all over the internet that provide easy do-it-yourself guides for anyone willing to make their own stained glass pieces. This means that the art is no longer secluded to a selected few members of the society as any person who is literate enough to follow instructions can make their own pieces. However, it still requires skill to make impressive stained glass pieces.
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