The 20th century's architectural revolution opened up dazzling new possibilities for stained glass. Over the last thirty years, in particular, a great many projects have been created all over the world, in both new buildings and historical churches and institutions. From the magnificent Art Nouveau ceilings of Parisian department stores, to exuberant designs from the Islamic world, and further still to the temples and palaces of India, Indonesia and Japan, stained glass has become a medium through which the traditional and the avant-garde come together to create sumptuous decoration. Studies of this phenomenon have been rare until now, and this book is a pioneer in the survey of this fascinating field.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. The Revival of Stained Glass: From Romanticism to Modernism; 2. The Twentieth Century: New Problems, New Solutions; 3. Artists of Our Time: Geometry, Colour and Spirituality; 4. Places of Worship: a Dialogue to Renovate Stained Glass; 5. Emblems of the Everyday: New Spaces, New Projects; Conclusion.

About the Author

Xavier Barral i Altet is Professor of Art History of the Middle Ages at Universite de Rennes. He is the author of numerous books, including Art and Architecture of Spain and The Romanesque.