The Poetry of Creation: Rowan LeCompte's stained glass windows
Without skilled artisans, there would be no great cathedrals. One such artisan was stained glass artist Rowan LeCompte, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2025.
The Cathedral's storytelling in stained glass
Cathedrals are giant storybooks. The iconographic theme of this Cathedral unfolds from Creation at the west entrance to Redemption through Jesus Christ at the eastern altars. More than 200 stained glass windows preach silently to visitors.
Over more than 70 years, LeCompte envisioned and created nearly 50 windows for the Cathedral. They not only tell sacred stories but also bring dancing light into the nave’s shadowed spaces.
A 14-year-old Rowan LeCompte visited the Cathedral in 1939 and began to dream of designing the west rose window—and continued to dream about it for the next 30 years. Never one to dream small, LeCompte also envisioned a scheme for the 18 top clerestory windows as one large work: a “long row of windows... varied, but in balance.”
The West Rose Window: A luminous meditation on creation
When given the commission for the west rose window in 1971, LeCompte first considered a figurative design, but the location’s complexity led him
toward a fully abstract design. Inspiration struck on an autumn walk: trees were glowing, some in shadow, some in full sunshine.
The artist created full-sized “cartoons”—detailed preparatory drawings—for every part of the window. These cartoons were essential for selecting the glass, painting details onto the glass and creating precise cutting patterns before assembling the window.
Detail of West Rose Window (1975) by Rowan LeCompteWashington National Cathedral
One of the most striking features of the window is LeCompte’s innovative use of nuggets of thick glass called dalles de verre. These prisms cast brilliant sparks, contrasting broad washes of color from pieces of thinner glass.
The enduring wonder of creation
Rowan LeCompte's artistic contribution to the Cathedral is immeasurable. His are 50 of the Cathedral's stained glass windows. And 50 years later, light from the West Rose window still kisses the stone walls, reminding us of the enduring wonder and vastness of creation.
West Rose Window and Light Reflection (1976) by Rowan LeCompteWashington National Cathedral
To explore more of our stained-glass windows and art and architecture at Washington National Cathedral, visit: cathedral.org/discover/3d-virtual-tour/
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.