Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel

Studio Name: Emil Frei Associates, Inc.

City: Livonia

Window Shape: 5 (gothic arched, 2 vertical sections)

Subject/Title of Window: Arts and Sciences

Brief Description of Subject: All of the aisle and transept windows have the same basic pattern, two lancet windows --- the top symbol in each lancet sets the topic for that lancet, and the four symbols below are each encased in a geometrical shape surrounded by grisaille glass. The border and filler color used, like the geometric shape, is unique to the section of the Church they are located in --- the transept uses a quatrefoil shape and the color of ruby.
 
The transept is on two levels. In the lower level is a chapel and the upper level a choir loft. The choir loft is constructed at an angle like a bleacher. This will cause variations in height and visibility of some of the windows.
 
The Felician Sisters came to Detroit 1879 as a teaching ministry. They established this Church in 1936, and on these grounds in 1937 started what has now developed into Madonna University. Thus the appropriateness of the topics of these windows --- Arts and Sciences.
 
Left lancet top to bottom.
 
Church: Symbolized here with a boat. The mast is in the shape of a cross (Chi) and the sail inscribed with the Greek letter Rho (P), which forms the Chi - Rho (Christ).
 
Painting: Pictured with an easel and paint brushes.
 
Music: Pictured with a harp and sheet of music.
 
Medicine: Pictured here with a Caduceus --- a staff mounted with wings and two snakes entwined around it. The origin of this symbol is in mythology. However it wasn't until around the 16th Century that it became associated with medicine.
 
The right lancet from top to bottom.
 
The Church: Pictured here is a Church with a cross on its steeple.
 
Literature: Pictured here with books, an ink well, and a sheet of paper.
 
Sculpture: Pictured here with tools used by a sculptor --- a mallet, and a scraper. In the background appears to be a sculpture of a woman praying.
 
Astronomy and Mathematics: Pictured for Astronomy --- the sun, earth, stars and a comet. For Mathematics --- a compass, and on the tablet --- variables X and Z, numbers 3 and 6, the signs for addition, subtraction, and square root.
 
Although the exact date is not known, this window was in place by 1944.

Height: 8'

Width: 6'

The MSGC is a constantly evolving database. Not all the data that has been collected by volunteers has been sorted and entered. Not every building has been completely documented.

All images in the Index are either born-digital photographs of windows or buildings or are scans of slides, prints, or other published sources. These images have been provided by volunteers and the quality of the material varies widely.

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