Roermond was surprised by two archaeological glass finds in 2009 and 2014. These finds included monumental glass from the Middle Ages and later periods, as well as from the 19th century. Roermond already had a distinguished history in this field, thanks to the renowned glass studio of Frans Nicolas and Sons and the artist-glassmaker Joep Nicolas. Furthermore, from around 1850 to the present, artisans and artists from Roermond, the Netherlands, and abroad have created a great deal of monumental glass in Roermond. In short, it is time to bring everything together clearly in a glass atlas.
The Roermond Glass Atlas is an accessible book, intended primarily to bring renewed attention to this magnificent phenomenon. It places the stained-glass windows in their historical and geographical context, providing information about the inspiration, the building, the artist, and the subject matter. The windows are usually connected in some way to the building and often form a cohesive whole with one another. They have been photographed in their surroundings and within the ensembles of which they are a part. Close-up shots reveal the glass artist’s distinctive style. The depictions usually correspond to the function of the location. When it comes to religious depictions, that connection is no longer recognizable to many people today. However, knowing something about these stories makes viewing them more fascinating and brings the stained-glass window to life. In this way, the stained-glass atlas connects these beautiful works of art with the history of the city of Roermond.
Approximately thirty locations in the municipality of Roermond are included: churches and chapels, schools and offices, a city hall and a hospital, as well as two former stained-glass studios and the two archaeological sites where stained glass has been found. In the city center, as well as in the surrounding neighborhoods, and in the villages that were later incorporated into Roermond, such as Swalmen, Asselt, Boukoul, Asenray, and Herten. Because there, too, there is much worth seeing.
The Roermond Glass Atlas was compiled by Rob Kooiman, who has previously curated exhibitions on monumental glass and specific glass artists. Together with photographer Bert Janssen, he revisited all the locations. Existing information was reviewed and, in some cases, supplemented with new details. The Glass Atlas comprises approximately 300 pages, more than half of which are filled with photographs. Designer Dennis Hambeukers has created a fresh and handy book.
The publication is part of the Roermond Municipality’s supraregional “Glas” project. The Roermond Municipality facilitates special projects that bring art and culture into a new dimension. The Cuypershuis is responsible for the project’s implementation. For each project, the Cuypershuis brings in different guest curators or project leaders. The fourth project focuses on the importance of monumental glass art for Roermond, with Rob Kooiman serving as project leader.