Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Church of the Divine Child

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Dearborn

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Subject/Title of Window: Birth of the Divine Child

Brief Description of Subject: This window, located over the main portal on the façade, is made up of 5 rectangular panels of varying heights that gives the appearance of an arch. In this window's location it is quite common to see a rose window. There is a circular section in the middle of this window that can thus be seen as paying homage to that practice.

The window was conceived by a master stained glass designer Marguerite Gaudin of Willet Hauser Architectural Glass and is quite well composed. Angels appear at the very top of each panel. The center angel is above the star of Bethlehem, on each side is an angel with a shofar (early trumpet) from Numbers 10:1-7 when two trumpets are sounded together the congregation is to come to the meeting place, finally the angels on the end panels are guiding the visitors, shepherds and Magi, to the Divine Child. The middle 3 panels are dominated by a large circular section containing the Nativity scene.  

Comments taken from "Our Stained Glass Windows" c.1970 this "east window gives prominence befitting the patron name of the parish by depicting the Nativity scene. Since it is subject to the strong horizontal rays of light of the morning sun, this window has much heavy coloration.

The figures in the window have a somewhat archaic appearance and fall in a pleasing and artful manner. This is very appropriate and becoming stained glass art and gives strength and character to the whole composition.

Viewed in a slightly subdued light, this window appears at its loveliest, rather than seeing it in the blasted almost horizontal light rays of brilliant morning sunshine. It is this window that might be termed the most lively bit of glass in the Church of the Divine Child, because in its composed dignity it dances with colorful life."

Height: 18'

Width: 14'

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.

If you have any questions, additions or corrections, or think you can provide better images and are willing to share them, please contact donald20@msu.edu