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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Christ Church Detroit

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Detroit

Window Shape: 6 (gothic arched, more than 2 vertical sections)

Date of Window: 1970

Subject/Title of Window: Life of Christ

Brief Description of Subject: This window, referred to as the "Great Façade Window," is the work of master stained glass artist Marguerite Gaudin. It is mainly composed of scenes from the life of Christ found in the New Testament and prefigurations of Christ in the Old Testament.

Most of the scenes are separated by a grape vine --- Jesus said "I am the vine, ye are the branches (John 15:1 KJV).

The scenes, starting from the bottom left working to the top right:

1. Sacrifice of Isaac --- Genesis 22: 1 - 19
2. God calls Isaiah --- Isaiah 6:6 - 7 --- Isaiah feels unworthy to be a prophet as his lips are unclean, so a Seraphim, using tongues, takes a coal from the fire and touches it to his lips. Mandorla enclosing the baby Jesus in a swaddle wrap refers to the prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, which is inscribed next to this seen. George Frederic Handel used these words in his oratorio "Messiah."
3. Birth of Jesus --- Luke 2:1 - 20
4. Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist --- Luke 3:21 - 22
5. Last Supper --- Luke 22:7 - 23 and John 13:29 - 30 (Judas leaving with money bag.)
6. Crucifixion --- John 19:25 - 27 Stabat Mater pose (Standing mother with John the Evangelist). The inscription from John 12:32 goes with this scene.
7. Resurrection (top of canopy) --- Scriptures start with empty tomb, so artists have wide latitude designing a Resurrection scene.
8. Wedding Feast at Cana --- John 2: 1 -12
9. Jesus calls his first disciples --- Matthew 4: 18 - 22. The inscription of Matthew 4:19 goes with this scene.
10. Jesus (stigmata) appears to seven Apostles by the Sea of Tiberius (aka Sea of Galilee) --- John 21: 1 - 25

Symbols and Attributes depicted:

Left and right of Resurrection --- Alpha and Omega (Christ describes himself as the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13 KJV)

Roundels in canopy make up the Trinity --- Father (the creator), Son (Resurrection), and the Holy Spirit (dove and tongues of fire).

Under Resurrection --- shell (Baptism) and Chalice (Last Supper, Eucharist).

Top of lancets, the four Evangelists --- winged human (Matthew), winged lion (Mark), winged ox (Luke), winged eagle (John).

Top of lancets, separating the Evangelists --- rock with Chi-Rho cross (the Church), Agnus Dei (Triumphant Christ), God's throne with fiery wheels (Daniel 7:9).

Right of Sacrifice of Isaac --- scroll (word of God), lit oil lamp, Chi-Rho cross (the Lord's "word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" Psalm 119:105 KJV)

Right of Baptism scene --- feet, wash basin, and towel (Jesus washes the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper. John 13: 1 - 12)

Inscriptions: To the Glory of God the Gift of James Preston Gray
Harold R. Albert 1970
For unto us a child is born unto us a son is given. [Isaiah 9:6 KJV]
And I, if I be lifted up from earth, will draw all men unto me. [John 12:32 KJV]
Follow me [and] I will make you fishers of men. [Matthew 4:19 KJV]


Condition of Window: Good

Height: ~24'

Width: 15'

Type of Glass and Technique: Antique or Cathedral Glass, Lead Came, Vitreous Paint, Silver Stain

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