Introduction to the proposal

Baptistery, Pisa

Baptistery interior showing window placement on the first level

Competition announced

In  September 2016, the Opera della Primaziale Pisana proclaimed a public competition among artists for the design and execution of four stained glass windows to replace four 19th century examples now beyond repair, inserted in the first story of Pisa Cathedral Baptistery, in the Cathedral Place, Pisa. Read more: Link

Diagram of existing windows

Finalists

In January 2017, the Opera announced that the Board of Examiners, after having scrutinized the applications received and, in particular, taken note of the curricula and the works performed by the artists and workshops proponents, identified in complete agreement the artists, connected to their respective laboratories, chosen to participate in the second phase of the competition.

The list is below, in alphabetical order:

 

CINZIA PAPUCCI ITALIA – FIRENZE          
DIDIER SANCEY FRANCIA – CHARTRES      
FLAVIO FUGA ITALIA – MURANO  
FRANCESCO MORI ITALIA – GROSSETO    
JOHN KENNETH CLARK MAIN – GERMANIA            
JOHN KENNETH LEAP RUNNEMEDE – USA  
PROGETTO ARTE POLI ITALIA – VERONA  
STUDIO FENICE ITALIA – BOLOGNA          

Introduction to my proposal

I visited the Baptistery in late February 2017 and spent a week in Pisa doing research. I paid particular attention to the remaining original windows in the stained glass cycle and observed the light at several times of day to thoroughly understand the transparency of the glass. I also made note of the order of the panels and looked for repetitions and instances of symmetry in the design and placement of the existing panels. In this proposal, I will explain my design for each of the new panels and my choice of location in the baptistery. In each instance, I will refer to one of the existing panels which I choose as a model for the new window.

Rendering of the complete cycle with my designs in place