the desired shade. If one carefully examines at close range and compares the windows in the Church and those in the Parish House, one will notice the difference in texture and appearance between the stained and painted glass.
         Before a window is made the location is carefully studied. The direction of light through it, the kind of shade it receives from outside (whether of trees or buildings), or the absence of shadows, and other means of entrance of light into the room, all must be taken into account when the glass is made. " . . . . if he [La Farge] wanted to show you a picture in his studio he would make sure of the hour of the day providing just the right light, or he would not show it at all."' (Royal Cortissoz). When one learns that the Parish House first stood with the Chancel toward the east he will understand why the Crocker window, representing Mary Magdalene at the Tomb, by La Farge is now disappointing to those who expect to see a remarkable example of stained glass. It is hoped that some day this master piece of a genius may be so placed that the wonder and beauty of it may be recognized at a glance. Then, too, the other works of La Farge in the room will better reveal their beauty. Guide books of New England place them among Springfield's art treasures.
         We stated that the designs in the windows are symbolical. A few of the symbols are worthy of further notice. The nimbus, or, as it is often called, the halo, is a disc or ring of light behind the head of any person or object considered holy. Any figure signifying God the Father, God the Son or God the Holy Spirit, or the Trinity, or the figure of Our Lord, of an apostle, saint, angel or cherub, is adorned with a nimbus. It is sometimes finished with a plain edge, sometimes rayed or fluted like the rays of the sun. Many times the color and the decorations reveal the character of the person whose figure the nimbus adorns. In most of our Chancel windows the nimbus is made with fine rays of gold or silver. Those of St. Peter, St. James, and St. John the Evangelist have wide rays within the circle, and those of the window of "Faith" and of St.

143

These pages are © Laurel O'Donnell, 1999 - 2005, all rights reserved
Copying these pages without written permission for the purpose of republishing
in any format or posting to mailing lists is strictly forbidden
This page was last updated on 27 Jul 2005