Discovering Stained Glass

Most churches and cathedrals in Britain contain stained glass: even the most unassuming buildings may have spectactular windows full of figures painted as if by coloured light. The wealth of imagery dates not only from the middle ages but also from the nineteenth century, when the majority of existing windows were made. Must of this later glass is very finely designed and of great interest. The earlier glass is rare and often not in its original position: we need to understand the intentions of the designers and craftsmen in order to appreciate it fully.

Carola Hicks studied Archaeology and History of Art at Edinburgh University and completed a Ph.D. on medieval art and iconography. Having taken up a research fellowship at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, she went on to write her first book, Animals in Early Medieval Art. She later became Curator of the Stained Glass Museum at Ely Cathedral, where she wrote Discovering Stained Glass. She now teaches art history to adult and undergraduate students at the University of Cambridge and is Director of Studies in History of Art at Newnham College as well as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. She died in 2010.