The Russian Chapel

Fred’s Journey


Wiesbaden Germany

A nineteenth-century Duke of Hesse married a Russian princess of great beauty and charm. To make her happy in his own Martin Luther land, he built her a chapel of Eastern Orthodoxy. Bombs damaged the windows on the night of February 1st when a third of Weisbaden disappeared in twenty minutes time. This was the war’s only mark. A cleaning woman told me she was rushing to a shelter when a blast blew the child from her arms whom she never saw again.

Artist’s Statement

    From

  • Armelle Le Roux

Using the classic colors of medieval stained glass, this medallion juxtaposes the fairytale-like story about the duke and his Orthodox princess with the raw sorrow of a 20th century mother’s loss. By associating the romance and tragedy, and capturing this nameless woman forever reaching for something that cannot be attained or restored, I hoped to create a spiritual image.

When Fred first saw this piece, he became quite emotional. Later on he blessed it.

Artist Information

  • Armelle Le Roux

    Atelier Le Roux
    3246 Ettie Street
    Studio 11 Oakland, CA 94608

Specifications

Number of shards: 11
Dimensions: 16 1⁄4″ diameter
Medium: painted, stained, gilded and leaded blown and plate glass

History & Context

Russian Chapel