Gabriel Loire (April 21, 1904 – December 27, 1996) was a French
stained glass
Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...
artist of the twentieth century whose extensive works, portraying various persons or historical scenes, appear in many venues around the world. He founded the Loire Studio in
Chartres, France
Chartres () is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Eure-et-Loir Departments of France, department in the Centre-Val de Loire Regions of France, region in France. It is located about southwest of Paris. At the 2019 census, there were 1 ...
which continues to produce stained glass windows. Loire was a leader in the modern use of "slab glass" (French: ''
dalle de verre
''Dalle de verre'', from French: "glass slab", is a glass art technique that uses pieces of coloured glass set in a matrix of concrete and epoxy resin or other supporting material.
Technique
The technique was developed by Jean Gaudin in Paris i ...
''), which is much thicker and stronger than the stained glass technique of the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
. The figures in his windows are mostly
Impressionistic
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
in style.
Life
Loire was born in
Pouancé
Pouancé () is a former commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France. On 15 December 2016, it was merged into the new commune Ombrée d'Anjou. It is located on the border of 4 French departements: Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne in the nort ...
, France, on April 21, 1904. After completing his schooling in
Angers
Angers (, , ) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Anjou until the French Revolution. The inhabitants of both the city and the prov ...
in 1926, he went to Charles Lorin stained glass workshop in
Chartres
Chartres () is the prefecture of the Eure-et-Loir department in the Centre-Val de Loire region in France. It is located about southwest of Paris. At the 2019 census, there were 170,763 inhabitants in the metropolitan area of Chartres (as d ...
, France. In 1946, he founded his own stained glass studio there, which continues under the direction of his son Jacques Loire and grandsons.
He died on Christmas Day, December 25, 1996, shortly after finishing a design for a new window.
Commissions
Loire often expressed the view, ''"La paix donne la joie"'' ("Peace gives joy") and particularly liked working with shades of blue, which he said represented to him the colour of peace. His stained glass artistry, blending modern and traditional elements, attained wide acceptance, as indicated by the considerable output of the Loire Studio displayed around the world. In addition to more than 450 installations in France, Loire's works are found in Scotland, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, Morocco, Japan,
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
, Canada, Australia and the United States of America.
Post-war work
Some of his important commissions were for churches rebuilt after destruction in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, in particular the
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (in German: Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, but mostly just known as Gedächtniskirche ) is a Protestant church affiliated with the Evangelical Church in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia, a regi ...
(Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche) in Berlin, Germany (1960) and the Church of St. Walberge, Xertigny,
Lorraine
Lorraine , also , , ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; german: Lothringen ; lb, Loutrengen; nl, Lotharingen is a cultural and historical region in Northeastern France, now located in the administrative region of Gr ...
, France (1951–1952).
His greatest post-war work is in Saint Paul's Church, Whiteinch,
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
(1960). It consists of 162 Square metres of curved window set in cement and embedded with chipped glass. The main panels depict the life of Saint Paul and are ably supported in the side altar by panels of the Virgin and the roof of the Baptismal font. The church building is Category B listed.
The Holy Name Church, Oakley, Fife, (1958), notable features include the stained glass windows and the carved Stations of the Cross are also by Gabriel Loire.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Church,
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock (, sco, Kilmaurnock; gd, Cill Mheàrnaig (IPA: ʰʲɪʎˈveaːɾnəkʲ, "Marnock's church") is a large town and former burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland and is the administrative centre of East Ayrshire, East Ayrshire Council. ...
, Ayrshire (1963). Large window above main entrance, also designed the windows in the octagonal baptistry.
St John's RC Church,
Stevenston
Stevenston ( sco, Steenstoun, gd, Baile Steaphain) is a town and parish in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Along with Ardrossan and Saltcoats it is one of the "Three Towns", all of similar size, on the Firth of Clyde coast; the easternmost parts of ...
, Ayrshire, windows depicting biblical scenes, (1963).
He has other works in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Broomhill, Glasgow (1965). Though the technique here is not of chipped glass but more of painted glass.
Saint Angela Merici Catholic Church in Pacific Grove, California
Gabriel Loire was commissioned to create seventeen windows for a new brick church building, constructed in 1957. The new Church was designed to combine an accessible, modern liturgical environment with minimalism that was part of midcentury architecture.
At the front, above the main doors of the church is triptych window which depicts the ministry, crucifixion, and ascension of Jesus.
Along the right side of the nave are seven windows depicting: Saint Pius X; Saint Patrick; Our Lady of Fatima; Saint Anthony of Padua; the Virgin Mary; Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus; and Saint Therese, Child of Jesus.
Along the left side of the nave are seven windows depicting: Saint Angela Merici at evening prayer with family; Saint Angela Merici praying before the Assumption of Mary; Saint Angela Merici's vision of ten virgins; the Healing of Saint Angela Merici; Saint Angela Merici founding the Ursuline Order; Saint Dominic; and Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan
In 1963, the
Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan
The Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan is a multigenerational Episcopal faith community in Corvallis, Oregon. Originally located in the historic building on Madison and 7th, the church now holds services from its 1962 location on the corner o ...
in Corvallis, Oregon, commissioned Loire to design stained glass chapel windows that expressed the congregation's dedication to the ministry of healing, funded in part by contributions from physicians in the parish. In 1968, the church contracted 49 additional windows for the main sanctuary representing "The Revelation of Truth from God through Human Personality."
St. Andrew's Wesley Church
For St. Andrew's Wesley Church in Vancouver, Canada, Loire created three different commissions: in 1969, a set of six windows dedicated to women in the Bible; also in 1969, "The Great Commission", based on Mark 16:15 "Go ye into all the world"; and in 1981, a set of eight windows based on Romans 9:4–5.
Whatley Chapel
Other notable works include Loire's stained glass windows designed in 1962 for Whatley Chapel at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, CO, and in 1980 for
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England. The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Salisbury and is the seat of the Bishop of Salisbury.
The buildi ...
in England, as well as in 1967 for
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Grace Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral located in the heart of San Francisco. It is a famed sightseeing destination for its striking architecture, stunning stained glass, labyrinths, Interfaith AIDS Chapel, and arts and cultural programs. G ...
. In 1958 he provided an extensive and "remarkable" scheme of
dalle de verre
''Dalle de verre'', from French: "glass slab", is a glass art technique that uses pieces of coloured glass set in a matrix of concrete and epoxy resin or other supporting material.
Technique
The technique was developed by Jean Gaudin in Paris i ...
Chichester
Chichester () is a cathedral city and civil parish in West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009. It is the only ci ...
, West Sussex.
St Augustine's Chapel
Two large and striking windows were completed for St Augustine's Chapel in Cork, Ireland in about 1972. These windows measure 12.5 metres in height and about 2 metres wide; the glass is solid coloured, not stained, glass. This glass is approximately 26 millimetres thick and is described as "''dalle-de-verre''", flagstones of glass, set in concrete and forming an integral load-bearing part of the building. Please see thumbnails.
Thanks-Giving Square
In 1976 Loire completed the "Glory Window" for
Thanks-Giving Square
Thanks-Giving Square is a private park and public facility anchoring the Thanksgiving Commercial Center district of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States. Dedicated in 1976, the complex consists of three components: a landscaped garden and non-den ...
in
Dallas, Texas
Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County w ...
. The window, which contains 73 panels of faceted glass, covers the spiral ceiling of non-denominational chapel to create one of the largest horizontally-mounted stained glass windows in the world. Lower panels feature varying shades of blue. As the spiral continues inwards and upwards the colors become warmer and brighter until reaching the center where 60 feet above the floor the panels give way to a circle of beaming yellow light. Taking its name from Psalm 19, Loire meant this progression "to express life with its difficulties, its forces, its joys, its torments, and its frightening aspects. Bit by bit, all of that gives way to an explosion of gold where the summit is reached." An image of the "Glory Window" was chosen for the official
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
stamp in 2000 during the International Year of Thanksgiving. It was also featured in the 2011 Oscar-nominated film The Tree of Life.
St. George's Cathedral
His celebrated ''Christ in Triumph over Darkness and Evil'' was dedicated in 1982 at St. George's Cathedral in
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
, South Africa, in memory of British war hero
Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Earl Mountbatten of Burma is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 28 October 1947 for Rear Admiral Louis Mountbatten, 1st Viscount Mountbatten of Burma. The letters patent creating the title specified the following r ...
, the last
Viceroy
A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning "k ...
of India.
Christ Church in Hamilton, Massachusetts
Gabriel Loire created a suite of magnificent windows for Christ Church (Episcopal) in Hamilton, Massachusetts.
First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana
The four windows on the left of the nave at First United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, designed by Loire depict scenes from the life of Christ: The Baptism, The Temptation, The Ministry, and his Crucifixion. The triangular west window by Loire is entitled ''Cycle of Celebration'' and depicts the Christian community ascending the "holy hill of the Lord", based on Psalm 43.
Crowell Chapel - The window which lights the mosaic is also by Loire and illustrates the theme of Christian service, using the parable of the Good Samaritan.
File:FUMCA Sanctuary Stained Glass - The Baptism.jpg, The Baptism of Christ
File:FUMCA - Sanctuary Stained Glass - The Temptation.jpg, The Temptation
File:FUMCA - Sanctuary Stained Glass - The Ministry.jpg, Christ in ministry to others
File:FUMCA - Sanctuary Stained Glass - The Crucifixion.jpg, The Crucifixion of Christ
File:West Window.jpg, West Window
File:FUMCA - Crowell Chapel - Good Samaritan.jpg, The parable of the Good Samaritan
Gallery of Gabriel Loire's works
File:Vitrail église Sainte Lazare de Lèves.JPG, Church of St Lazare of
Lèves
Lèves () is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in Northern France.
Population
International relations
Lèves is twinned with the English town of Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.
See also
*Communes of the Eure-et-Loir department
The fol ...
,
Eure-et-Loir
Eure-et-Loir (, locally: ) is a French department, named after the Eure and Loir rivers. It is located in the region of Centre-Val de Loire. In 2019, Eure-et-Loir had a population of 431,575.Prisoners of conscience window in the Trinity Chapel of
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England. The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Salisbury and is the seat of the Bishop of Salisbury.
The buildi ...
, UK (1980)
File:Loire Stained Glass.jpg, ''Christ in Triumph over Darkness and Evil'', St. George's Cathedral,
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...