Hartwell Memorial Window

The over 100-year-old Hartwell Memorial Window is now on permanent view at the Art Institute of Chicago. The window was originally made for the Central Baptist Church by Louis Comfort Tiffany in 1917 and was acquired by the Art Institute in its full form, something rarely seen. Ravenswood Studio partnered with the Art Institute to create the complex steel framing and backlighting for this 26-foot by 18-foot window display.

The window, made up of 48 separate panels, is held up by a 10-piece welded steel frame weighing over 8,000 pounds. A backlight is built-in behind to mimic sunlight, showcasing the full beauty and tremendous size of the piece. For easy access to repairs, the lights are built onto a tracking system, allowing them to be pulled out from each side. The front of the window is made of sculpted foam, modeled after the church’s original window frame.

Photo Credit: Design attributed to Agnes F. Northrop (American, 1857–1953). Tiffany Studios (American, 1902–32). Hartwell Memorial Window, 1917. Leaded glass; 798.7 × 554.7 × 42.5 cm (314 7/16 × 218 3/8 × 16 3/4 in.). The Art Institute of Chicago. Find the full list of generous supporters of the Tiffany window at artic.edu.