Sheltering the Homeless c. 1510 - 1520

This roundel, Sheltering the Homeless, was made anonymously, using stained glass. Unlike painting, where the artist applies pigment to a surface, stained glass involves a process of cutting, shaping, and joining pieces of colored glass. The striking yellow color you see wasn't painted on, it’s the intrinsic color of the material itself. The artist likely used "silver stain," a compound applied to the glass and then fired in a kiln, to bring out the vibrant yellow hues. Other areas of the composition would have been painted onto the glass with grisaille paint. This is a dark pigment, which allowed the artist to add fine details like the folds in the figures' robes and their facial features. Stained glass requires planning and skill to bring together design, color and light. These are the products of countless hours, and highly valued materials and techniques. This artwork is not just an image, but a testament to the alchemical transformation of raw materials into something of enduring beauty and significance.