Abstract:
Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) was one of the most significant artists of the
twentieth century. Tiffany’s artistic oeuvre encompassed nearly all mediums, but his
passion for color and light reached a synthesis in large-scale ecclesiastical figural mosaics
produced from 1891-1931. In these designs, Tiffany employed glass material in new
ways to convey dimensionality and movement, ultimately achieving a sense of realism
never before accomplished in mosaic. Utilizing glass that was unlimited in color and
texture, he developed a modern method that consisted primarily of sectiliae, or pieces of
glass cut to irregular and special forms. Inspired by early Christian and Renaissance
mosaic examples, his efforts brought about a revival of the art form in America and he
advanced what he called “the decorative possibilities” of the medium for the
ecclesiastical interior. Unfortunately, Tiffany’s ecclesiastical figural mosaics have been
largely overlooked, perhaps because many remain in situ, in locations with limited access. The purpose of this study is to begin to fill the lack of scholarship regarding this
significant portion of his prolific career. This thesis first situates Tiffany’s success within
the American Renaissance and the larger history of mosaic art; the role of the Tiffany
Studios’ Ecclesiastical Department is then presented, including a detailed account of how
the figural mosaics were fabricated; and lastly, a survey of significant figural
commissions highlights the sources of design inspiration utilized in the creation of these
artworks. The success of Tiffany’s ecclesiastical figural mosaics not only points to their
importance within the Tiffany Studios’ brand, but also their significance as American
religious artworks.
