Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Catholic Church Houston, Texas

The window pictured above was the result of a competition between IHS and another studio in Italy. The winner, IHS, was awarded the entirety of the project.

This window depicts the climatic scene from the war in Heaven as the triumphant St. Michael stands over the conquered body of the Devil.  This battle has long been passed down through Christian tradition and stems from the Biblical passage of Revelation 12: 7-4.

This style of painting is based upon the Byzantine artwork of the Eastern Orthodox Church.  The Byzantine style is characterized by such qualities as inverse proportion and bold lines, but its most recognizable characteristic is the figure work.  Figures are normally holding rigid positions and convey a sense of somberness and introspection.  Although St. Michael is victorious his face is not one of exuberance or cheer, but instead is more subdued and solemn.  The reasoning behind portraying the figures this way is to allow the viewer to reflect more reverently upon the gravity of the scene being portrayed.   

Hand drawn, full size cartoon, used for painting and assembly.