America The Beautiful I
1966 – Washington National Cathedral – North Outer Aisle
This is one of the three purely abstract windows that Rowan worked on for the cathedral, in this case, with his wife Irene. In the video clip below, Rowan talks about their inspiration for these windows. In Introducing these windows, Jewels of Light indicates that Rowan felt that music and stained glass had much in common, stating that, “as with music, the core of stained glass is aesthetic and emotional. Both mediums of expression require the search for scale, forms, and rhythms that will produce a harmonious whole.” On both sets of windows there is very little painting, mostly crosshatching to control the light.
Photo – Peter Swanson
Iconography
America The Beautiful I
The left lancet of this pair symbolizes a golden harvest of grains and the abundance of our country’s heartland. The right lancet represents the great northern woodlands with their beautiful fall trees and cold stark winters.
Window Details
Click on an image to see it full size.
America The Beautiful 1
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1 Rosette
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Left Lancet
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Left Lancet, Detail 1
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Left Lancet, Detail 2
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Left Lancet, Detail 3
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Left Lancet, Detail 4
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Left Lancet, Detail 5
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Left Lancet, Detail 6
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Right Lancet
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Right Lancet Detail 1
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Right Lancet Detail 2
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Right Lancet Detail 3
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Right Lancet Detail 4
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Right Lancet Detail 5
Photo – Peter Swanson
America The Beautiful 1, Right Lancet Detail 6
Photo – Peter Swanson
Window Details
Year Completed
1966
Artists
Irene Matz LeCompte, Rowan LeCompte
Fabricator
Irene Matz LeCompte, Rowan LeCompte
Location In Building
North Outer Aisle Bay 5
To learn more about Rowan and stained glass vist our DVD store.
Address
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
Produced By:
Global Visions & Associates, Inc.
www.globalviz.com
More Information
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