Another in my series: New Obsession - Journeys to see Tiffanys.
Another in my series: New Obsession - Journeys to see Tiffanys. It turns out they're not that hard to find if you are looking, although they are not always available to see. They're everywhere.
Anyway, was within an hour of this and heard it had one of the Tiffany mosaics so went to see. Very much not a disappointment. First, the mosaic was quite large and encompassed the entirety of the altar, not just the altarpiece. Second, at least 20 Tiffany windows, depending on how you count them. Every window on the main floor of the church is attested. It's possible the higher windows are, as well, but documentation has not been confirmed.
It's a little, English gothic style church on a corner in an old mill neighborhood. In addition to the mosaic and windows being cool, I got a personal tour from the rector, who was directly involved in restoration and preservation efforts and is very into the whole history of the place, including being highly knowledgeable about Tiffany.
One thing I learned from her was that the reason the painted appearing details on Tiffany windows have lasted so long and so well is that not only are they enamel, i.e., glass, rather than paint, the enameling was baked. I hadn't learned about the baking before. It's a cool attention to detail sort of thing.
Most of the pictures were with the lights off, making it easier to see the natural light through the windows. The dynamic range of colors and effects is more than my phone camera can handle, so I took two pictures of a couple of the windows to see all the colors and variation. I took several of the main window(s) over the altar, trying to get all the details.
The windows were designed to progress from the oculus nativity window above the narthex, through Christ's life around both walls, to the ascension in the largest window(s) above the altar. (Some details here: http://www.stmatthewworcester.org/st_matthew_worcester/Stained_Glass_Windows.html)
I could not get a decent pic of the nativity window, so have a link to someone else's: http://college.holycross.edu/projects/worcester/neighbors/saintmatthews/fullsize/Occulus.jpg
And some history about the place, if you're interested: http://college.holycross.edu/projects/worcester/neighbors/stmatthews.htm
This is in Worcester, MA and easy to access. It should be on some national historic register if it isn't yet. Anyway, it is very worth seeing if you are interested. Also, if you will be around there June 30, 2018 - April 21, 2019, the Worcester Art Museum will be displaying some Tiffany and LaFarge windows they literally just found they had in storage a few years ago that have been fixed up for display.
Anyway, was within an hour of this and heard it had one of the Tiffany mosaics so went to see. Very much not a disappointment. First, the mosaic was quite large and encompassed the entirety of the altar, not just the altarpiece. Second, at least 20 Tiffany windows, depending on how you count them. Every window on the main floor of the church is attested. It's possible the higher windows are, as well, but documentation has not been confirmed.
It's a little, English gothic style church on a corner in an old mill neighborhood. In addition to the mosaic and windows being cool, I got a personal tour from the rector, who was directly involved in restoration and preservation efforts and is very into the whole history of the place, including being highly knowledgeable about Tiffany.
One thing I learned from her was that the reason the painted appearing details on Tiffany windows have lasted so long and so well is that not only are they enamel, i.e., glass, rather than paint, the enameling was baked. I hadn't learned about the baking before. It's a cool attention to detail sort of thing.
Most of the pictures were with the lights off, making it easier to see the natural light through the windows. The dynamic range of colors and effects is more than my phone camera can handle, so I took two pictures of a couple of the windows to see all the colors and variation. I took several of the main window(s) over the altar, trying to get all the details.
The windows were designed to progress from the oculus nativity window above the narthex, through Christ's life around both walls, to the ascension in the largest window(s) above the altar. (Some details here: http://www.stmatthewworcester.org/st_matthew_worcester/Stained_Glass_Windows.html)
I could not get a decent pic of the nativity window, so have a link to someone else's: http://college.holycross.edu/projects/worcester/neighbors/saintmatthews/fullsize/Occulus.jpg
And some history about the place, if you're interested: http://college.holycross.edu/projects/worcester/neighbors/stmatthews.htm
This is in Worcester, MA and easy to access. It should be on some national historic register if it isn't yet. Anyway, it is very worth seeing if you are interested. Also, if you will be around there June 30, 2018 - April 21, 2019, the Worcester Art Museum will be displaying some Tiffany and LaFarge windows they literally just found they had in storage a few years ago that have been fixed up for display.
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