The importance of Sagrada Familia’s stained glass windows
A play of light and contrast
In Gothic cathedrals, the most colorful stained-glass windows are often found at the highest points, where sunlight is unobstructed. The lower sections, shaded by trees or buildings, usually feature less intense colors to balance the overall effect. However, Gaudí took a different approach with the Sagrada Familia.
Here, the highest windows are the most transparent, allowing light to flood the space and illuminate the mosaics and golden vaults of the nave. The lower windows, where illustrations and texts reside, feature more intense colors, making them easier for visitors to read and appreciate. This contrast highlights Gaudí’s innovative departure from Gothic traditions
Trichromy: A test of innovation
Gaudí's work on stained glass extended to experiments with trichromy, a technique involving three primary colors—yellow, cyan, and magenta—layered with a transparent seal. This approach, inspired by an article on Tiffany glass, aimed to create a sense of depth in the images, as though they were three-dimensional. Although the results were not as Gaudí had hoped, remnants of this technique can still be found in stained-glass windows in Mallorca and Montserrat.
For the Sagrada Familia, however, Gaudí opted for leaded glass, a method backed by centuries of practice. The lead lines, which divide the glass into smaller pieces, not only hold the glass securely but also add rhythm and dynamism to the composition. This technique allows for the selection of specific colors for each piece, contributing to the overall harmony of the design.
