Masterpiece: The bond
The masterpiece painted stained glass : The bond
" Creating the masterpiece was for me a spiritual experience, a gift to God.
To show Him gratitude, for being the light in the darkness, and guiding me back home."
This stained glass art object, masterpiece, is made during my last year of study for glass art. It was originally created for the Dom catherdral in Utrecht. With this masterpiece I wanted to capture the soul of the cathedral, the story, motivation and inspiration behind this magnificent gothic structure. It was important that the two churches, the protestant and the catholic were united in the masterpiece, as a reaction against the iconoclasm in 1580.
The masterpiece focuses on one vision: that Jesus comes back, evil is overcome and the bond between men and God is restored through the cross and the ressurection. The gothic church is constructed with the same vision, see the symbolic meaning behind the ornaments, the sacred number seven is deliberately incorporated in the exterior of the church that was divided into seven bays. The number seven will repeatedly recur in the design: the tree of life, the colours in the top part and the symbolism. The design focuses on the following sayings of Jezus on the cross:
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Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do |
Symbolises the fall of man. This is displayed in the black ( the contour) stained glass painting of the coloured glass. |
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Today you will be with me in paradise |
The tree of life (represents Jezus) with seven branches that reach from the bottom to top in the framework. The branches of the tree of life are surrounded by the seven colours of the holy spirit, they are reflected at the top of the framework and symbolice "it is finished", the bond between men and God is restored. |
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Behold your son: behold your mother |
Is displayed as Maria, as the mother of the catholic church and as mediation for the people on earth and with God in heaven, the son - Jezus as the tree of life. Around Maria's head, the finial is displayed with in the centre a triangle. This represents the trinity: Jezus - the father 'God'- the holy spirit.
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Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani? of Eloï, Eloï, lema sabachtani? |
Abondonment, loneliness, darkness, is displayed by the branches of the tree of life - also represents the destruction of the nave of the Dom church and symbolises the cross on wich Jezus died. |
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I thirst |
The water of life, wich flows upwards along the tree of life. |
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Father, into your hands I commit my spirit |
The idea of the finial that flourishes out of the water of life - symbolises the gargoyle on the church. The finial represents life and strength - symbolises in stone - the symbolic meaning of the ornaments: "Life flourishes on the cross on wich the saviour, Jezus Christ died. |
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It is finished |
The sun is displayed in seven colours wich return in the bottom of the framework, to mantain consistency. Also in the middle of the framework is the color pink. This symblises reconciliation. |
The meaning of the colours used in the tree of life and the pointed arche reference to verse Matthew 5 : 3 - 9
Matthew 5 : 3 - 9
White
Blue
Green
Orange
Yellow
Red
Purple
Pink
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are those who mourn , for they will be comforted
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God
The light that breaks through. On the moment when Jezus died, the curtain in the temple ripped off from top to bottom. The meaning of that event is that the barrier between God and men is removed through the blood of Christ ( Hebrews 10 : 19 , 20