Church of the Gesu

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Church of Gesu is home to an impressive collection of “Munich Style” stained glass windows, made at the Royal Bavarian Art Institute in the early twentieth century. The collection includes over 40 windows depicting saints and the life of Christ.

Over the last two decades, CSS has been commissioned to restore the church’s large rose window and various other stained-glass windows, as well as install protective storm glass.

Rose Window

Gesu’s beautiful rose window was installed in the early twentieth century. Over the years, it suffered from the effects of age – with numerous cracked pieces of glass, deteriorated lead came and damaged framing. The conservation of the window was meticulously planned in conjunction with the restoration of the church’s monumental organ, which, when removed, permitted open access to the window framework.

The rose window was documented, removed and transported to the Studio. The panels were carefully dismantled and each piece of glass was cleaned as the deteriorated lead was removed. Cracked pieces of glass were carefully repaired. The panels were glazed, cemented and reinforcement bars were applied. The panels were reinstalled into the restored wood frames and are preserved for future generations of the community of the Church of the Gesu