Creation and restoration with infills
1991 - Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens, Amiens
I was entrusted with the rearrangement of the 13th-century stained glass from the cathedral choir. The windows, removed during the First World War, had been ravaged by a fire that broke out in a cabinetmaker's workshop: the remaining panels were incomplete, with molten lead on charred and shattered glass. The main photo shows the final state. With the approval of Historic Monuments, I chose not to make my creations and infills in the central window too dark, unlike the eighteen charred borders and the 13th-century elements of the five medallions. My creations are simply a little less light than those of the two windows on either side of it. My work was overseen by Nathalie Frachon-Gielarek, stained-glass historian and research officer.
- Type of building
- Cathedral
- Département
- Somme
- Location in the building
- Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi
Gallery
Final state in black
The original parts are shown in black. The rest, the accompanying creations and the infills completing the fragments, is in full color.
Infill and creation – 1st window
Cartoon
After copying onto the cartoon, and completing, the 13th-century elements of the Tree of Jesse laid out on my glass table, I work out the newly created panels with the same gestures.
Axial window “Childhood of the Virgin”
The three old medallions at the base of the right lancet, completed and restored, are accompanied by abstract medallions that suggest iconographic scenes.
Survey drawing by Nathalie Frachon-Gielarek
Survey drawing showing all the old elements available for the axial window.
Infills and creation
Third window: 15 newly created quatrefoils mingle with the 9 old quatrefoils devoted to the Passion.
Quatrefoil
Original quatrefoil depicting Herod ordering the Massacre of the Innocents.
Quatrefoil - Herod ordering the Massacre of the Innocents (completed)
Quatrefoil - The Resurrection
Quatrefoil - The Miraculous Draught of Fishes
Quatrefoil - The Dormition of the Virgin
Quatrefoil - The First Outrages
Quatrefoil - The Crucifixion
Quatrefoil - The Angels' Message at the Empty Tomb
Quatrefoil - The Annunciation
Quatrefoil - Adoration by One of the Magi
Quatrefoil - The Arrest of Jesus
Cartoon
Upper part of the cartoon for the background pattern planned for window 18, accompanying the newly created quatrefoils (project approved, then abandoned because the 19th-century surrounds were rediscovered).
Cartoon
Layout of the medallions on the new background pattern.
Restoration of a king from the Tree of Jesse
A king from the Tree of Jesse, before restoration
Restoration of a king from the Tree of Jesse
A king from the Tree of Jesse, after restoration