Man’s Search For God I

1966 – Washington National Cathedral – South Outer Aisle

Almost 10 years had passed since Rowan and Irene had done similar size windows on the North side of the cathedral. In that set of windows, Humanitarians 1 and 2, much smaller pieces of glass were used creating very busy compositions in an almost impressionistic style. In this window, especially in the right lancet, large sheets of glass create an open, spacious composition. Also done in 1966 were the two America The Beautiful windows, which were totally abstract in nature. The contrast in the three styles by the same artist is striking and shows the versatility and imagination of the artists.

Iconography

This set of windows is meant to tell the story of the founding of Washington Cathedral using Biblical examples. In the left lancet the prophet Jeremiah is shackled in chains with the city of Washington below him. In the Biblical story, Jeremiah urges the city of Jerusalem to repent and change its ways. From prison he authorizes his cousin to purchase land for him and this is symbolic of the decision to purchase land for the cathedral. In the upper half of the lancet, Jeremiah is holding an olive tree, “symbol of continuity and lasting life.” Jewels of light says this is symbolic of the struggles people encountered in deciding to build the cathedral so far outside the center of Washington.

In the right lancet Paul is preaching to a Greek audience, people who had not heard “the good news” of Christ. The parallel is that the cathedral will bring the same news to a new audience in the New World.