Munich-style Stained Glass - Rediscovery and Revival of Munich Style Windows

Rediscovery and Revival of Munich Style Windows

In Germany, right after World War II, the disapproval of 19th century art – both secular and ecclesiastical - became immensely strong. The Zeitgeist demanded a break with the past and a new beginning in all aspects of life including all fields of art. In the 1960s and 70’s declining acceptance of 19th century art became rather common internationally, even in traditional ecclesiastical circles. Many beautiful stained glass windows of the 19th and early 20th century were removed from churches, destroyed or distorted, and were replaced with “modernistic” windows.

The quality of traditional pictorial and figurative windows had immensely deteriorated through the 20th century. There were very few artists left with mastery of figurative drawing in the traditional academic sense. The painters tended to simplify their strokes, their tracing lines and all of the etching and rubbing work. One has to remember that at Mayer and Zettler windows around 1900 approximately 50% to 65% of all painting work was erasing and rubbing work, which was necessary to achieve the beautiful luminosity of these Munich style windows.

Besides concentrating on the field of contemporary stained glass with great success, Mayer of Munich again has been focusing on the design and fabrication qualities of the historic “Munich Style” windows of the late 19th and early 20th century.