Ontwerp voor glas in lood ramen in de Dom van Aachen 1850s

Julius Cäsar Thäter made this design for stained glass windows in the Aachen Cathedral, using graphite on paper. The Aachen Cathedral held great symbolic importance as Charlemagne's Palatine Chapel, and in 1802 it became the main church of Aachen, so the design of its windows was an important commission. Made in the 19th century, this work reflects a Romantic vision of the medieval past. It revives Christian iconography and is intended to project the power of the church. Note the presence of the holy spirit, and the traditional poses of the religious figures. The composition is arranged vertically as if to emphasize the holy status of the figures represented. The design would have been subject to institutional review, as the church hierarchy would want to ensure its message was in line with church doctrine. To understand the artwork better, we might research the archives of the Aachen Cathedral, and consider the social and cultural context in which the design was made.