Notre‑Dame Stained Glass: Rose Windows and Light

Notre‑Dame’s stained glass translates doctrine into colored radiance. Lead cames stitch geometries that deliver stories and light levels tuned to liturgy.

🪟 Geometries & Craft

• Radial logic: Rose windows orchestrate petals, tracery, and medallions.
• Cames & solder: Lead profiles shape narrative panels and reinforce edges.
• Pigments: Medieval pot metals and silver stain craft depth.

🔆 Light as Composition

• Diffused fields: The nave glows with soft chroma that respects ritual.
• Rendered faces: Figurative medallions teach through iconography.
• Maintenance: Post‑fire campaigns cleaned soot and reset glazing.

🧪 Materials & Methods

YAML schema:

glass:
  types:
    - pot_metal
    - flashed_glass
  treatments:
    - silver_stain
    - enamel
lead:
  came_profile: h
  solder: tin_lead_mix

$$ ext{Transmittance} = e^{-alpha d} quad ext{(Beer–Lambert, qualitative for pigments)} $$

📊 Quick Tech Snapshot

❓ FAQ

• Do colors fade? Some enamels can fade; pot metals are more stable.
• Why lead? It’s malleable and repairable.

[^care]: Conservators log pane IDs, crack maps, and lead fatigue for lifecycle care.