Grossmünster stained glass

The Grossmünster is a Romanesque-style church in Zurich, one of the three major churches in the city.  Completed in 1220 AD, the Grossmünster was a monastery church, and according to legend it was founded by Charlemagne, whose horse fell to its knees on the graves of Felix and Regula, the patron saints of Zurich.

The church itself is awe-inspiring, but I am focused on the more contemporary stained glass windows, which date from the 20th and 21st centuries.  There are two artists who are responsible for the newer windows, Giacometti in 1932 and Sigmar Polke between 2006 and 2009.  It is this later set that interests me the most.  And I think you'll see why...

photos sewed together for this post, this is not how the windows appear in the church

I think they're gorgeous.  Polke made a set of 12 windows for the Grossmünster.  I think that they are a lesson in re-exploring the relationship between church and art, and between religion and stained glass.  The link between churches and stained glass dates back to before the medieval.  In fact, evidence has been found that dates the earliest stained glass to the 7th century (in modern day Jarrow in England, then Saxon territory).

photos sewed together for this post, this is not how the windows appear in the church

Seven of these 12 windows are made in mosaic.  These windows are constructed with fragments of agate, some artificially colored, creating bursts of light and patterns.  While older church stained glass focuses on the literal depiction of stories from the Bible or other lessons, to me these windows seem to create another dialogue: on the complex relationship of nature, time, the divine and religious. 

I could look at images of these windows for hours, and would love to see them in person one day.  I think that these photos make them seem deceptively small... go here to see what I mean.

For more information on Sigmar Polke, on Grossmünster, and see the book on Amazon that has been written about the windows.