From Color to Light – Alfred Manessier and 20th-Century Stained Glass
In 2023, the Musée Boucher de Perthes–Manessier hosted a two-day symposium dedicated to Alfred Manessier—a major figure in French abstraction—and the evolution of stained glass in the 20th century. Marking both the 30th anniversary of the stained-glass windows in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Saint-Sépulcre) in Abbeville and the passing of the artist, this volume compiles the papers presented during the event. Among them is an article titled "François Décorchemont, Creator of Cast-Glass Stained Windows," authored by Eric Louet, director of the Musée du Verre François Décorchemont.
The book explores the history of modern stained glass, the significant technical advancements in the craft of the master glazier, and the foundational collaborations between artists and workshops. It further examines how Manessier—and subsequently the Second School of Paris—helped reinvent the concept of "sacred light" within 20th-century Christian art. Richly illustrated with nearly 120 images, the volume offers a unique panorama: from the pioneers of cast glass to contemporary creations, from the Lorin workshops to the stained glass of Elvire Jan, and spanning locations from Chartres and Saint-Dié-des-Vosges to Switzerland. The work concludes with a poetic tribute by Jacques Darras, providing a sensitive and luminous interpretation of Manessier’s oeuvre.
Contributors: Jean-Pierre Blin, Emilie Gautheron, Claudine Loisel, Barbara Trichereau, Jacques Darras, Marie Savoldelli, Éric Louet, Bruno Loire, Luc-Benoît Brouard, Romain Glorieux, Élodie Vally, Valérie Sauterel, and Elsa Thouvenot.
Publisher: Invenit
Publication date: 01/08/2026
ISBN: 2376801575
Color illustrations
Number of pages: 240
Format: 21.00 x 28.00 x 0.10 cm
