33 Metal Window

The metal window is a regimented structure, almost symmetrical. Or as symmetrical as you’ll ever see in one of my paintings. There’s an understated grandeur about this window. It’s elegant, minimal for a building of this type – a village parish church.

These church windows are clear glass. No ornate stained glass, just a means to convey light into the building. That’s the downside of stained glass, it does darken the room, even if there are lots of brilliant colours as a result.

I love stained glass but there’s a lot to be said for a view of “God’s great tapestry”, as one of my former patients described it. I’ve always liked her description of the changing world we see of seasons and weather.

Looking at the painting the colours shine through. There’s a strong contrast between the geometric, tightly formed pattern of window panes contained in an archway of dressed stone and the weathered, randomly defined wall of stone that fills the remaining image. Order is restored at the bottom and, hopefully, continues out of sight below. There’s a tantalising glimpse of the apex of a door frame.