PROJECTS OF THE IUA

The Corpus Vitrearum project was established in 1952 and has operated under the aegis of the UAI and the Comité International de l'Histoire de l'Art (CIHA). Until 1976, the project was called Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi. Its organization includes : an International Board (a President, two Vice-Presidents, a General Secretary), a Committee for Conservation and Technological Research (a Director, a Vice-Director and a Secretary), and National Committees (authors and others) of countries in Europe and America which possess ancient stained glass windows either in churches or in collections. The National Committees elect the International Board.

The aim of the Corpus Vitrearum project is the thorough scholarly investigation and documentation of all stained glass windows of the West countries up to 1500. This involves the application of rigorous critical methods to establish their authenticity and the study of techniques used in their production. The time limit may be extended to the time of the Industrial Revolution for those countries in which important post-mediaeval stained glass windows are found. The work has to follow the Directives drawn up by the International Board, revised several times since 1952 and agreed to by the UAI and CIHA.

Up to the present time, 46 volumes have been published in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, the Scandinavian countries, Spain, Switzerland and Slovakia. In addition, a dozen volumes have been published in Subsidiary Series (such as inventories and occasional papers including a checklist of glass in the United States). Colloquia are held at regular intervals.

The project was adopted by the UAI in 1955 as a Category C project. Directors : H. Hahnloser 1955-1974, L. Grodecki 1975-1982, E. Frodl Kraft 1982-1987, M.H. Caviness 1987-1995, R. Marks, 1995-2004, B. Kurmann-Schwarz 2004-

Web sites :
Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaffen : www.bbaw.de/vh/cvma
Freiburg : www.cvma-freiburg.de