Plain stain
Happy Monday! How about kick-starting the week with some stained glass? Not just any old stained glass though, this is stained glass at Palau Güell!
Much use was made by Gaudí of stained glass elements at this gorgeous palace, starting with some very plain and simple stained glass (in the sense that it is bits of coloured glass inset into lead or iron but with no actual images painted). We can find examples of this under the main domed ceiling (viewed from the inside – above – and outside – below)…
Plain stain 2
Catalan colours
… and downstairs, up one flight of stairs from the entrance, in typical Catalan colours.
Güell’s initials
It get’s a little more intricate as you go to the upper levels of the palace, starting with the windows which display Eusebi Güell’s initials, inset into panes with a traditional ‘cul de got’ (which means bottom of a glass) style. Quite a simple style, yet thanks to the masterful way in which these window panes are reflected in the window opposite, the effect, as always with anything Gaudí had a hand in, is stunning!
Clever reflections
Twin panels
On the next floor up, is where it get’s really interesting, and very detailed and colourful stained glass can be found in the various rooms.
One of the twins
Hamlet influence
In the room that was once Eusebi Güell’s eldest daughter’s, we find the main panes of the bay window are covered in stained glass with a Hamlet theme, depicting the main characters in Shakespeare’s famous play, inset into a background made up entirely of Swedish crowns.
Swedish crowns
From the ceiling…
In another of that grand (family) rooms the most beautiful stained glass can be found. There the windows are as high as the ceiling, and alongside and at the base of these are gorgeous stained glass panels depicting thistles, roses and lovely cranes.
… to the ledge
Thistles
White rose
Thistles 2
Lovely, aren’t they?
Beautiful crane
And thanks to the glossy polished sandstone of which the walls and the window seats are made, these lovely examples of stained glass at Palau Güell are cleverly reflected, adding to their wow factor. Simply delightful!
Clever reflections 2
