Stained-Glass Art in the Canton of Fribourg by the Atelier Kirsch & Fleckner

In 1894, a stained-glass workshop was founded in Fribourg that would play a key role in the history of 20th century stained glass. It was run by the German Vinzenz Kirsch (1872-1938), who took over the workshop of Bernese glass painter Ludwig Greiner. He formed a partnership with his compatriot Karl Fleckner (1865-1934), who handled the administrative side of the business, while Kirsch focused on the artistic side. Shortly after opening the small business, Atelier Kirsch & Fleckner was commissioned to create the stained-glass windows for the collegiate church and future cathedral of Fribourg, designed by the Polish artist Józef Mehoffer (1869-1946) – a commission that would enable the workshop to build a reputation beyond national borders. Following in Mehoffer’s footsteps, many Swiss artists collaborated with Kirsch & Fleckner over the course of the workshop’s history, producing hundreds of stained-glass works across Switzerland and particularly in Fribourg, each reflecting their unique artistic vision. These collaborations continued after 1938, when the workshop split into two parts, ran by the Fleckner family and Kirsch respectively.

This project will inventory the stained-glass windows created throughout the canton of Fribourg by the Atelier Kirsch & Fleckner and its successors. This exceptional cultural heritage, which brings together the work of renowned artists, offers a unique insight into the history of stained glass in Fribourg from the end of the 19th century to the 1980s. The workshop’s collection of drawings, held in the collections of the Vitrocentre & Vitromusée Romont, will also provide an opportunity to link the stained-glass with the preparatory drawings, delving into the creative process behind stained-glass works.

Duration of the Project: 2025-2028