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Published by Kulturalis
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
The stained-glass windows of England’s cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious and other messages, and – perhaps – offer a glimpse of heaven. This book tells the remarkable story of these much-loved works of art.
The stained-glass windows of England’s cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious and other messages, and – perhaps – offer us a glimpse of heaven. This book tells the remarkable story of these much-loved works of art.
Divine Light features glass from every Church of England cathedral. It spans nearly 900 years, beginning with the windows installed at Canterbury Cathedral following the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170 and representing every subsequent century in the history of English stained glass. Divine Light encompasses the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the hugely productive ‘long 19th century’, the Pre-Raphaelites, the Arts and Crafts movement, the creative commissions of the 20th century, and the innovative glass being commissioned by cathedrals today.
The book establishes the connections between the artistic beauty of stained glass, its effectiveness as a narrative medium, and the various technical developments that have shaped the work of practitioners over the centuries. The refraction of light through colored glass emerges as an early form of mass communications that retains its power to move and inspire today.
The stained-glass windows of England’s cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious and other messages, and – perhaps – offer us a glimpse of heaven. This book tells the remarkable story of these much-loved works of art.
Divine Light features glass from every Church of England cathedral. It spans nearly 900 years, beginning with the windows installed at Canterbury Cathedral following the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170 and representing every subsequent century in the history of English stained glass. Divine Light encompasses the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the hugely productive ‘long 19th century’, the Pre-Raphaelites, the Arts and Crafts movement, the creative commissions of the 20th century, and the innovative glass being commissioned by cathedrals today.
The book establishes the connections between the artistic beauty of stained glass, its effectiveness as a narrative medium, and the various technical developments that have shaped the work of practitioners over the centuries. The refraction of light through colored glass emerges as an early form of mass communications that retains its power to move and inspire today.
Product Details
- Publisher: Kulturalis (November 18, 2025)
- Length: 120 pages
- ISBN13: 9781836360278
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Raves and Reviews
"Divine Light encompasses the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the hugely productive 'long nineteenth century', the Arts and Crafts movement, the creative commisions of the twentieth century, and the innovative glass being commisioned by cathedrals today.
Importantly, Divine Light establishes the connections between the artistic beauty of stained glass, it's effectiveness as a narrative medium, and the various tecnical developments that have shaped the work of practioners over the centuries."
– Stained Glass Association of America
"The scene is astonishingly alive: the sower strides diagonally across his furrows, in elogant detailed costume, seed basket with tiny feet hanging fron his neck..."
– The Catholic Herald
"This book is a wonderful companion to cathedral-crawling, not least in helping the crawlers work out what is, and what isn't, worth seeing."
– Simon Heffer, Telegraph
"Divine Light encompasses the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the hugely productive ‘long nineteenth century’, the Arts and Crafts movement, the creative commissions of the twentieth century. It also establishes the connections between the artistic beauty of stained glass, its effectiveness as a narrative medium, and the various technical developments that have shaped the work of practitioners over the centuries. The refraction of light through coloured glass emerges as an early form of mass communication that retains its power to move and inspire today."
– Inspire Chesire
"The book provides a comprehensive insight into stained glass from the Middle Ages to the innovative pieces being commissioned today. New photographs by Andy Marshall and Marcus Green grace the book, which also doubles as a travel guide for the millions exploring England's cathedrals a year."
– Ely Standard
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High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Divine Light
Trade Paperback 9781836360278
Published by Kulturalis
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
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