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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. Andrew's Church

Studio Name: Loire (Gabriel) Studios

City: Rochester

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1969

Subject/Title of Window: The Story of Salvation, Part 10-Walk in the Desert

Brief Description of Subject: This is the tenth of a series of 10 windows located along the sides of the nave. According to the Church "The theme of the faceted art glass at St. Andrew is the Story of Salvation." This is done through the story of the exodus of God's chosen people from Egypt. Each window, in somewhat chronological order, depicts God's hand in freeing his chosen people from enslavement by the Pharaoh, making a covenant with them, and leading them on a path to the land of milk and honey. This parallels Christ dying to free us from the sin of Adam, making a new covenant, and with his resurrection, a promise of heaven. In addition to the story of this exodus, there are symbols that appear to be unrelated to this narrative. There is also numerology --- each of the 10 windows is made with four panels, totaling 40 panels. 10 is the number of the Commandments and 40 is the number used throughout the Bible to symbolize new creation.
 
The artist's watercolor for each of these windows names the key objects depicted and will be listed with translations from French. For this window:
 
10 Cdt --- 10th Commandment
Oeil ouvert --- Open eye
La ????? --- The unreadable
Marche dans le desert --- Walk in the desert
Nuee --- Cloud
L'ange --- The angel
 
What is pictured here is not a specific event in the Israelite's journey through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey, rather it depicts that throughout this journey, God was always with them. God's words found in Joshua 1: 5, the Commissioning of Joshua after Moses' death, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will will not fail you or forsake you ... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (RSVCE). This is echoed by Jesus in the Great Commission of the Apostles, Matthew 28:20, "Lo I am with you always to the close of time." (RSVCE).
 
At the bottom of all four panels, the Israelites are are seen walking across the desert.
 
The left two panels show the Angel of God. The Angel of God was introduced in Exodus 23:20, "Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to a place I have prepared." (RSVCE). This angel is seen as a type of Christ by substituting "Christ" for  "an angel" in the quote --- "Behold, I send Christ before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to a place I have prepared."
 
The middle panel shows an open eye radiating beams of light onto the Israelites below. As a Christian symbol it is called by various names --- Eye of Divine Providence, All knowing Eye of God, or All Seeing Eye of God. All imply God's compassionate watchfulness over humanity.
 
The right panel displays a pillar of cloud. This was introduced in Exodus 13:21 - 22, "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way ... the pillar of cloud did not depart from before the people." (RSCVE).
 
On the bottom of the left panel, the maker has signed "Gabriel Loire  Chartres  France  1969."

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 4'

Width: 15'

Type of Glass and Technique: Vitreous Paint, Slab or Faceted Glass (Dalle de Verre)

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