Artwork

lasimaalaus, Olaus Petrin kirkko, kyyhkynen ja kruunu

lasimaalaus, Olaus Petrin kirkko, kyyhkynen ja kruunu, by Eric O. W. Ehrström
lasimaalaus, Olaus Petrin kirkko, kyyhkynen ja kruunu, by Eric O. W. Ehrström

lasimaalaus, Olaus Petrin kirkko, kyyhkynen ja kruunu is a photography by Eric O. W. Ehrström. It is held in the collection of the Finnish Heritage Agency. The work is a stained‑glass window originally installed in Olaus Petrin Church.

About this work

Overview

The work is a stained‑glass window originally installed in Olaus Petrin Church. Its composition is divided into three horizontal zones: a white dove with outstretched wings occupies the upper register; a crown suspended from a curved arch crowns the central band, which is filled with a cluster of dark‑framed floral motifs; the lower section contains two modest shields and a lion bearing a sword.

Subject & Meaning

The dove, a traditional Christian symbol of the Holy Spirit, presides over the scene, while the crown suggests regal or divine authority. The floral elements may represent the garden of Eden or the sanctity of creation, and the lion with a sword evokes themes of protection and martyrdom, common in ecclesiastical heraldry.

Technique & Style

Crafted from colored glass pieces joined by lead cames, the window displays the characteristic vivid translucency of Nordic stained glass. The design employs clear glass for the dove, allowing maximum light transmission, contrasted with darker, lead‑lined panels that define the floral and heraldic motifs, reflecting a late‑medieval to early‑modern aesthetic prevalent in Finnish church art.

History & Provenance

Created for Olaus Petrin Church, the window remained in situ until it was removed for conservation and subsequently entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The museum now preserves it as part of its holdings of religious glasswork, providing insight into regional liturgical art and its preservation.

Context

Stained‑glass windows of this type were integral to Protestant worship spaces in Finland, serving both decorative and didactic functions. The combination of biblical symbolism (the dove) with heraldic devices (crown, shields, lion) reflects the intertwining of spiritual and civic identities during the period of its production.

Artist & collection

Artist

Eric O. W. Ehrström

Eric O. W. Ehrström spent years on his hands and knees, squinting at stained-glass windows under scaffolding. He didn’t just snap photos—he climbed into the frames, capturing the way light turns red into honey and blue…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Finnish Heritage Agency open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.