Louis Tiffany

description

An American artist and designer, the most famous representative of Art Nouveau in the United States.

He was the eldest son of Harriet and Charles Lewis Tiffany, a famous jeweler, the founder of his own company. He grew up surrounded by beautiful exquisite things and luxury, but was not interested in the family business. Attended school at the Military Academy of Pennsylvania.

Louis Comfort Tiffany was famous for the invention of a special stained glass technique, which consists of various pieces of colored glass joined together by means of copper foil. This method, as well as new types of glass created by him, revolutionized the decorative art of the late nineteenth century. The technique of Tiffany has become the most common for the creation of stained glass, lampshades and other works of decorative and applied art from colored glass all over the world. The style of modern, in which the designer worked, in the US and other countries of America, is called “Tiffany”, after the name of its discoverer.

The works of Louis Tiffany to this day are very popular and of great value for collectors of works of Art Nouveau.

Key ideas:

– Tiffany started his artistic career as a painter, and after becoming known in this sphere began to work in the genre of decorative art. His watercolor and oil paintings are colorful landscapes and genre scenes. The artist mostly preferred to depict the eastern architectural ensembles and pictures of the daily life of the Arabs, which he observed during his travels to Algeria and Morocco.

– Inspired by the stained glass windows of European churches and the ideas of the “Arts and Crafts Movement” in England, the artist decided to work in the genre of decorative art, and achieved the highest success in doing that. Tiffany acquired the world’s fame and admiration of the public thanks to his famous lampshades, each of which is a real work of art in the Art Nouveau style. Elegant and intricate floral patterns, made of pieces of colored glass and connected by light and thin partitions, looked like if they shone from the inside, thanks to the transparency and the purest color of the special glass. Contemporaries even called the plafonds from Tiffany “living hanging bouquets.”

– Having achieved perfection in the design of lamps, bijouterie and other objects of use as well as recognition from the general public, Louis Tiffany began to engage in larger monumental projects. He creates unique and surprisingly beautiful stained glass windows that adorn the temples, public buildings and private mansions of New York, Boston and other American cities.

– The artist’s technique and the materials used by him, thanks to which a stunning color effect was created, are truly unique. His desire to prove that in no canvas and with no paint it is possible to achieve such brightness of color and light, as with stained glass technique, it can be said, was realized.

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1848

1865 - 1869

1870

1881 - 1882

1892

1893 - 1894

1899 - 1900

1902 - 1905

1910 - 1920

1933

The birth of the artist

Louis Tiffany was born on February 18, 1848 in New York.

Traveled to Europe

Traveled to Europe (Ireland, France, Italy). In the London Museum of Victoria and Albert, the young artist was greatly impressed by the large collection of Syrian and Roman glass (now, in this museum, there is a collection of glass by Tiffany himself). The artist learnt painting from J. Innes in Eagleswood, New Jersey and at Samuel Coleman in Irvington, New York. He attended the National Academy of Design in New York for a short while, and later studied in the workshop of D. Bayi in Paris.

The artist became one of the founders of the "Society of American Artists"

Having returned to the US after studying in Europe, he created landscapes, genre painting in the style of orientalism. The presentation of his works at the World Exhibition took place in Philadelphia (1876). The artist became one of the founders of the “Society of American Artists”. He opened his own glass factory in Queens (1878) and began his first experiments in stained-glass technique. A year later, his own company for the production of decorative products “Louis K. Tiffany and Associated Artists” was founded.

Made the interior design for Mark Twain's mansion

Made the interior design for Mark Twain’s mansion (Connecticut, the main works have survived to this day). The artist’s company received an order for the design of the White House for US President Chester Alan Arthur – the closed apartments were fenced off with a glass three-part screen, the walls were decorated with mirror lights.

S. Coleman, a teacher of Tiffany, became a business partner of his student

S. Coleman, a teacher of Tiffany, became a business partner of his student; together they worked on the design of furniture and interiors for private residences in New York, in particular, the home of Henry Osborne Havmayer – one of the most ardent admirers of Tiffany’s work. The decoration of the interior combined different styles, but mostly Celtic was used.

Designed glass chapel for the World Chicago exhibition

Designed glass chapel for the World Chicago exhibition, showed there a large number of his works, which was a huge success. Patented the stained glass “Favril” (from the ancient French word “handmade”). At the same time, his first lamps began to be sold. In subsequent years, Louis Tiffany designed of a large number of buildings, both private and public: churches, universities and libraries.

Presented his unique translucent enamels in London

Presented his unique translucent enamels in London. Later, in 1925, one of the 15 enamel works was donated by the author to the London museum. The famous lampshade “Caterpillar” received Grand Prix at the World Paris Exhibition; gallerist S. Bing exhibited “Four Seasons” (the windows of Tiffany) in London – and there the author received a special medal.

He inherited his father's jewelry company

He inherited his father’s jewelry company and combined it with his production. Two years later, early jewelry appeared; they were exhibited in Louisiana. They attracted favorable attention of art critics and the press. Tiffany used semi-precious stones, decorating them with enamel. Ornaments quickly reached the status of works of art. Master realized his dream – completed the creation of the mansion with 84 rooms in an 8-level estate overlooking the harbor in Oyster Bay, New York.

A huge stained glass window was completed for the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City

A huge stained glass window was completed for the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. That glass window was considered a true masterpiece. With the outbreak of the First World War, the demand for designer’s works greatly reduced, soon Tiffany retired. The company still produced “the windows of Tiffany”, but their quality significantly decreased.