Apparition of the Virgin. Andrésy Église Saint-Germain Vitrail 

This stained glass window, depicting an apparition of the Virgin Mary, was created by Ludovic Alleaume for the Église Saint-Germain in Andrésy. Using glass, lead, and paint, the artist constructed a scene where the Virgin appears to a group of onlookers. The making of stained glass is a fascinating combination of craft and industry. Individual pieces of colored glass are carefully cut, painted with details, and then fired to fuse the paint. The glass pieces are then assembled using lead cames. The lead not only holds the glass together but also forms a graphic framework, defining shapes and adding to the overall visual effect. Glass, of course, has a long history in both sacred and secular architecture, its visual impact reliant on both color and the play of light. It’s no accident that medieval cathedrals employed this medium, and the tradition was revived in the 19th century, as here, as part of a broader Arts & Crafts investment in pre-industrial processes. In this window, the craftsmanship elevates what is essentially an industrial material into something transcendent.