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The North Nave Clerestory Windows:
At Washington National Cathedral, the nave clerestory, or uppermost level, windows are the largest windows with the exception of the three rose windows.
The art and artisanship of the Cathedral is tied together by a system of images and symbols called iconography. The creation west rose window stands as a prologue to the march of the clerestory windows--bay by bay--from the west balcony to the great crossing. Each pair of windows, north and south, of the clerestory continues the story of events and history of the Hebrew people set forth in the Old Testament as a prelude to the coming of Jesus.
As the west rose window attests to the Divine origin of all life, the Cathedral interior thereafter offers a perception of God's covenant with Humanity. The clerestory windows suggest clues to God's presence in aiding the human spirit as it moves from mortality in the west to eternity as depicted in the east.
In no other Christian structure built in the twentieth century has there been an opportunity for so much stained glass iconography as in this Cathedral. These eighteen nave clerestory windows (nine on each side) contain one of the largest assemblies of Old Testament figures ever to be placed in one church's stained glass windows.
The eminent artist Rowan LeCompte designed all of the nave clerestory windows as well as the west rose window. It was decided that one artist should design all the windows to create a harmony of design in all the windows. The first window was completed in 1977 and the eighteenth and final window was installed in 2002. LeCompte has spoken of the importance of the elements of richness of color, clarity and sparkle in stained glass and those elements are brilliantly displayed in these masterpieces.
The windows are approximately 27 feet tall and each of comprised of four lancets, or thin, pointed windows. The descriptions use the terms lancet, meaning one of four sections making up the entire window; multifoil, meaning the six lobed section above the lancets; predella, meaning the lower part of the window. |