Cleveland Museum of Art

Stained Glass Panel with Male Donor

Date

c. 1480

Medium

pot metal, white glass with silver stain

Culture

France, 15th century

Department

Medieval Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The origin of these stained glass panels is unknown. They depict a male and female donor, presumably husband and wife, who gaze upon a now-lost central panel. The object of their devotions was likely a crucified Christ or a standing figure of the Virgin Mary. The man, dressed in armor, and the woman, wearing a bejeweled and richly embroidered gown, are accompanied by their coats-of-arms (unidentified). They are undoubtedly members of an aristocratic elite who commissioned these windows, perhaps for a family chapel. The brilliant colors of this stained glass panel were produced by adding different materials to molten glass, creating a reaction that resulted in specific colors. The metal supports for the individual pieces of glass are made from pot metal, an alloy, or mixture, of copper and iron.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.