The Great East Window of York Minster: An English Masterpiece

Description

After an immense process of careful restoration and conservation, the outstanding artistry of the Great East Window is revealed afresh through state-of-the art photography that captures the complete sequence of major panels, in corrected placements, for the very first time. At the size of a tennis court, it is the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in Britain and one of the largest medieval windows ever made. This visual feast is brought to life by expert author Sarah Brown, who explores the history, artistry, meaning and restoration of the window, revealing new insights on a fragile masterpiece that has been described as England's Sistine Chapel. Ground breaking new research has shed exciting new light on the window's complex narratives, relating its story to the Minster's history and liturgy. The Great East Window of York Minster explores the window's biblical presentation of the beginning and end of time, the window's relationships with other media and the technical processes behind its creation. This stunning, illustrated hardback presents an engaging contextual analysis of the window's unequivocal position as an English masterpiece. 'The Great East Window of York Minster" tells the story of Time: from the Creation, Genesis, at the top, to the end of time, when a new heaven and a new earth is brought into being by Jesus Christ according to the Revelation of St John, at the bottom. It is a truly timeless masterpiece, with a message as relevant today as it was 600 years ago when it was painted.' - John Sentamu, Archbishop of York

Sarah Brown is a national expert on medieval ecclesiastical architecture, stained glass history and conservation, and is the author of many books and articles in the field. She is president of the British Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi and a member of the Church Building Council's stained glass committee. Sarah works as a Senior Lecturer specialising in stained glass, its history and conservation within the History of Art Department at the University of York, and has since 2008 also been Director and Chief Executive of the York Glaziers Trust, responsible for the care of the stained glass of York Minster.

Excellent...[Sarah Brown] has written an erudite and readable book that tells us all we want to know about this wonderful masterpiece that Yorkshire is so proud of. -- Bill Spence * Yorkshire Gazette and Herald * A magnificent book allows the story of York Minster's Great East Window finally to be brought alive for everyone to enjoy. -- Stephen Lewis * York Press * This book is a significant contribution to the growing body of literature surrounding the east window. Almost two thirds of its pages are given over to sumptuous colour photographs of the medieval glass and include captions that identify the subject or the corresponding biblical source. This catalogue alone - the first complete publication of the window in colour - makes Brown's book an indispensable resource for future scholars of English stained glass ... Brown's is an important and beautiful book, which should appeal to both scholars and the interested public. -- Oliver Mitchell * Burlington Magazine *