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South Nave Stained Glass Windows
Buffalo Religious Arts Center Xavier Hall Gallery
Formerly St. Francis Xavier RC Church

It is unusual to have the Stations of the Cross depicted in stained glass windows. (Placed in the church in 1913)

These windows are by the F. X. Zettler company, one of the studios in Germany associated with the Munich Pictorial Style. Two of the windows are signed (see one below).

The German studios were favored by Roman Catholic churches in America.

The German studios typically used enamel paints in imitating Renaissance style windows - as opposed to Gothic style or opalescent style, both of which were favored in Protestant churches in America.

Romanesque style churches found in later 11th-12th centuries were fairly dark spaces because of few, small windows, often oculus (round) in shape. The style of St. Francis Xavier RC Church is Roman Basilica. It is somewhat ironic that Romanesque Basilica churches in America used large stained glass windows which were not developed until the later Gothic era (1150-1500) churches and cathedrals.


(Left) Ascension/ Resurrection ..... Stations of the Cross 14, 13  .....Stations of the Cross 12, 11 ..... Stations of the Cross 10, 9


Stations of the Cross

##10 (Jesus being stripped of his garments) and 9 (His third fall)
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Detail - Stations of the Cross
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Detail - Station of the Cross #10  (left panel: Jesus being stripped of his garments)
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Detail - Station of the Cross #9 (right panel: His third fall)
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Station of the Cross #9F. X. Zettler signature
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Stations of the Cross
##12 (left: Jesus' death) and11 (The crucifixion)
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Detail - Stations of the Cross
#12 Mary, Mother of Jesus and John the Apostle
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Detail - Stations of the Cross
#12 Mary Magdalene
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Detail - Stations of the Cross
#11 The crucifixion
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Left panel: Station 14, Burial of Jesus ..... Right panel: Station 13, Jesus' Removal from the Cross
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  Detail: Station 14, Burial of Jesus The woman is Mary, Mother of Jesus. To the right of Mary is John the Apostle.
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Detail: Station 13,  
Left: John the Apostle; Mary, Mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene
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Left: Ascension ..... Right: Resurrection
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Angel holding Jesus' crown: This panel unifies the the two larger vertical panels below into one larger window.
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This cross bottony and architectural element also serves to unify the two vertical panels, as well as creating a framework for the each scene so that the scenes are not floating in space.

Extensive use of pinnacles and three-leaf finials.
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Detail: Ascension
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Detail: Ascension
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..

Details: Resurrection ..... Angel


Special thanks to Buffalo Religious Arts Center Founder and President Mary Holland for her cooperation in 2010
Photos and their arrangement © 2010 Chuck LaChiusa
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