Hartwell Memorial Window

Presenting a soaring vista of an idealized view of Mount Chocorua, New Hampshire, the Hartwell Memorial Window is among the most complex stained-glass landscapes produced in the United States. Commissioned by Mary Hartwell as a memorial in honor of her husband Frederick for the Central Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island (now Community Church of Providence), the majestic scene was inspired by the view from his family home. Agnes F. Northrop designed the window at the height of her five-decade-long career at Tiffany Studios. She specialized in intricate landscapes and worked with a team of experts to realize the 25-foot-high window, which is made up of 48 individual panels. In order to achieve highly natural effects, artists used a kaleidoscopic variety of glass types, some of which are built up two to five layers thick.

The Hartwell Memorial Window remained housed in the sanctuary of the Community Church of Providence until 2018, when the congregation decided to relocate it to the Art Institute of Chicago, where it could be conserved to ensure its long-term stability and remain on public view. This majestic work is currently installed at the top of the Woman’s Board Grand Staircase, thanks to novel approaches to the window’s mounting, framing, and lighting.