Chapelle de Saint Leger
Riec-sur-Bélon. Finistere, Brittany France
In 2021 we were asked by the Committee of Patrimoine for the restoration of the chapel St Leger at Riec sur Belon, if it was possible to create six double bays in a colourful abstract style.
The chapel is a lovely building set on a most picturesque little beach, secluded in the countryside of Riec on the banks of the Belon river in Finistere, Brittany. It is only a few minutes away from the famous artists town of Pont Even.
It was an interesting project that was an quite a challenge and potentially unique. The traditional technique of stained glass is very pre conceived and needs to be exact and precise from the very start. However, these windows were based on the style of abstract expressionism, which is very spontaneous and impulsive. The colours were to be very vibrant, the textures to be varied. The effects of the brush strokes needed to be rapid and give the impression of “one touch”. The patterns were drawn quickly, and even the glass cutting was open to impulsive changes!
We decided to create our own textures by creating a textured “bed “on which we could slump some of the glasses. Large brushed were employed to literally stroke the shaped glasses with one heavy stroke. These were then fired in the kiln and then coloured enamels were applied to give the various effects.
As the panels are made up of lots of different shapes with no straight lines what so ever, it was decided that the panels that make up the windows could not be square or rectangle in shape. The contours of the panels were defined by the most appropriate curved lines. This meant that the vergettes (horizontal steel bars), had to be bent to follow the exact line of the panels.
We are very pleased with the result, as was everyone else involved with the project. The overall finished effect of the colours and reflections have lit up the church, giving it a completely new life. Being close to Pont Even and its long history of artists who have worked there, and the many tourists who visit this area, we hope that these unique windows will please and inspire all who sees them.
