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What is a circular window, usually of stained glass and decorated with tracery symmetrical about the center?

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Final answer:

A circular window with stained glass and symmetrical tracery is known as a rose window, a feature of Gothic architecture, often found in churches and depicting religious stories.

Step-by-step explanation:

A circular window, usually of stained glass and decorated with symmetrical tracery centered around the middle, is known as a rose window. This design is a hallmark of Gothic architecture, noted for its elaborate stone tracery, which creates patterns and support for the glass panes. Rose windows are famous not only for their beauty but also for their storytelling capacity, often depicting religious scenes from the Old or New Testament.

During the 13th century, peculiarly in a period art historians call the Rayonnant, the rose window reached new levels of complexity, with exceptionally thin stone tracery allowing more light to enter and creating a more intricate design. The rose window from the Chartres Cathedral is a quintessential example, where artists assembled small pieces of colored glass held together with malleable lead strips to craft these breathtakingly detailed works of art.

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