Art : The art of stained glass windows, an art form which Toulouse artists have excelled over centuries!.
Updated: Sep 3
INTRODUCTION :
Today, I'm going to talk to you about a rather uncommon topic that is not often discussed: Stained glass!.
We are most accustomed to seeing it in churches, but as we will discover together , it can also be found in many other places.
Finally, we will see that throughout history, some master glassmakers from Toulouse were renowned worldwide for their craftsmanship.
What if we set off together to discover these magnificent stained-glass window.....
HISTORY OF THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS :
A stained-glass window is defined as a technique involving a composition made up of several pieces of glass held together by a network of lead cames.
-Origin :
The first stained-glass windows appeared around 1100 in " Augsburg ", " Germany " !.
However, the use of lead in stained glass became rare only during the Middle Ages.
With the restoration of the monarchy in France in the 19th. century, stained glass briefly regained popularity.
Indeed, it was necessary to restore religious buildings that had been damaged during the French Revolution.
With the rise of Catholic faith and the restoration of many stained-glass windows, France had at that time to fewer than seven hundred churches!.
In the 20th. century, the famous French author " Victor Hugo" writings a book to raise awareness of " Notre Dame de Paris " and another about " Shakespeare's life, contributed to bringing stained-glass back into fashion il all its form!.
However, the major change in this century was the advent of the Industrial Age.
Master glassmakers established proper workshops and companies, and production became increasingly mass-oriented.
Indeed, stained-glass windows were mass-produced, often using the same designs, and were even sold trough catalogues!.
THE MASTER GLASSMAKER OF TOULOUSE RENOWNED WORLDWIDE :
In the 20th. century, about fifteen master glassmakers were based in the bourgeoisie districts of the Pink City.
It is in the areas of Toulouse where wealthy families lived that the most stained-glass windows can be found they could afford them.
As we have seen, all over world many buildings, especially religious ones, needed restoration.
At that time, people turned to the world-renowned expertise of master glassmakers from southwestern France, and from Toulouse in particular!.
A highly renowned Toulouse-based workshop was often called upon : The Geta workshops.
This company was founded by " Louis Victor Gesta ", a native of Toulouse who studied at the city's " School of Fine arts and later at the Paris Manufacture " .
He opened his own workshop in Toulouse in 1852 and went on to become the largest in France.
His stained-glass works can be seen troughout France and even abroad!.
The appearance of BOW-WINDOWS or " ORIEL " IN FRENCH :
A bow window set into a façade, extending over or more floors and supported by one or more brackets.
Sometimes, it is closed on the inside by a door or left open.
They appeared in the 15th. century England with the development of the " Neoclassical " architectural style, and in the 19th. century with " Victorian " style.
In Germany, it emerged with " Renaissance " architecture.
In Toulouse, with the return of Art Nouveau to fashion, bow windows developed !.
It was especially between 1890 and 1920, with the revival of Art Nouveau and the " Belle Époque ", that bow windows developed in Toulouse.
Only wealthy bourgeoisie families could afford bow windows.
That is why, in Toulouse as elsewhere, they are mainly found in the city's affluent districts.
Indeed, on Sundays, these families would leave their city apartments to go to the outskirts, which at the time were considered the countryside !.
There are three of them in Toulouse : " les châlets ", Les Alées de Barcelonne ", and " Le Busca " .
The finest architectural example from this period in Toulouse is the " Georges Labit Museum ", located on the banks of the " Canal du Midi " .
This building is a masterpiece of " Neo-Moorish " architecture.
In a city as Hispano-influenced as Toulouse, what could be more natural than finding such a building!.
Many of these bow windows in Toulouse are found on the façades of the "Art Nouveau" buildings.
They are characterized by woodwork with organic, flowing curves.
Examples of beautiful Art Nouveau buildings and houses in Toulouse :
-Magnificent neighborhood house know as the " Maison Henri Dalet ", locatd at 18, Allée Frédéric Mistral 31 000 Toulouse ( 1900/1902 ):
This house is distinguished by a splendid glazed terracotta decoration in its inner courtyard, designed by the architect " Virebent " !.
-The building :
-THe Inner Courtyard :
-The decorations on this property :
-The house Art Nouveau style 19 Frédéric Mistral street 31 000 Toulouse ( 1908 ) :
The architect of this magnificent property of Toulouse was " Joseph Gilet ".
The owner of this property was the creator of the beautiful Art-Mauresque style Museum near Canal du Midi, called " Musée Georges Labit " .
-A building Art Nouveau style 5, Ozenne street 31 000 Toulouse by " Joseph Gilet " :
-The building located , 13 "OZENNE " street 31 000 TOULOUSE :
-The building located 33, OZENNE street 31 000 TOULOUSE :
The building called " Grand Hôtel de Tivollier " , 31 Metz street 31 000 TOULOUSE :
The architecture of this magnificent building was designed by " Barthélémy Guilard ".
With its generous proportions and grand volumes, the building was once a hotel with 150 rooms and around fifty private salons.
Its façade is made of white stone, and in the entrance hall, you can admire its magnificent Art Nouveau canopy.
The building located, 46 Metz street 31 000 TOULOUSE :
The architecture of this magnificent building was designed by the architect " Galan " .
Here, the traditional Toulouse architecture of brick and stone, inspired by the 17th. century, is beautifully revived.
-Splendid house in a Toulouse neighborhood, located at 43, Allée des Demoiselles, known as the " Tourelle House " , dating from around 1900 !.
This house is distinguished by its turret, giving it the appearance of a small castel.
It features richly details Art Nouveau ornamentation.
The building was once a former chaplaincy belonging to the Archdiocese of Toulouse.
During the Second World War, it housed a German resistance fighter named " Markus Heineken " .
CONCLUSION :
As we have seen, this list of Art nouveau buildings and houses in Toulouse is by no means exhaustive.
There are, of course, many more to be discovered throughout the Pink City.
Well, my friends, this is all of today.
If you ever come to visit Toulouse, be sure to explore this remarkable and exceptional architectural heritage.
You won't be disappointed !.
Welcome in Toulouse.
The blog from Toulouse.
Best regards, Franck.
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