The Driehous Gallery and the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows

When I visited Chicago recently, I wanted to see the historic Navy Pier, as I had heard it is the number one tourist destination in the Midwest. I was very excited when I found out that the pier contained two free stained glass gallery/museums.  I have always been interested in the beauty and workmanship of stained glass, especially Tiffany stained glass. The Tiffany window above was in the Driehaus Gallery and was entitled "Christ and the Apostles," It was made in 1890.  It depicts Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane with eleven of his apostles. The color, radiance, and detail of the glass are magnificent! (Please click on all the photos and photo collages in this post to enlarge them, in order to see the wonderful details)

The Richard H Driehaus Gallery of Stained Glass is located near the top of Chicago's Navy Pier and contains eleven of Tiffany Studios stained glass windows, ranging from Ecclesiastical to secular landscapes. This gallery is part of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, located at 40 East Erie Street, in Chicago, Illinois, which is dedicated to the design and decorative arts of America's Gilded Age.

"The Annunciation" Tiffany Stained Glass

Louis Comfort Tiffany ( 1848-1933) was an American artist, designer, and decorator.  He revolutionized the art of stained glass making in the 1870'a. In his New York glass factory, he developed new types of glass, such as drapery, opalescent, etched, rippled mottled, and enameled glass. Tiffany built his reputation on stained glass window commissions for public buildings, churches, and private clients. Many of these windows can still be viewed in their original locations worldwide.

More Tiffany windows on display in the Driehaus Gallery

I was mesmerized by the beauty of all the windows...

...and the brilliance of their color and design.

This Tiffany window, entitled "Chicago Skyline" was commissioned in 1928 for an electrical company in Joliet, Illinois, to commemorate the electrification of both rural and urban America.

The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows is a permanent display of 150 stained glass windows housed in an 800 foot long series of galleries in Festival Hall on the Navy Pier, with free admission. It is the first museum in the United States dedicated solely to stained glass, divided by artistic theme into four categories: Victorian, Prairie, Modern, and Contemporary. All of the windows were designed by prominent local, national and European studios, and most were originally installed in Chicago area, residential, commercial and religious buildings.

As you walk through the gallery the windows are displayed with either natural light...

...or backlighting.

These were a small example of the many exquisite stained glass windows on display.

There were also many examples of Tiffany stained glass in the Smith collection, both the ones above...

...and these.....

...and these!

There was also an assortment of modern stained glass, such as this piece entitled 'The American Flag 2001" by mosaic glass artist Khaim Pinkhasik. As a native New Yorker, any tribute to 9-11 touches my heart, and I found this piece to be dazzling!

I could have spent all day browsing and admiring the stained glass in both the gallery and museum and I'm sure if I ever return on a visit to Chicago they will be high up on my list of places I'd like to see again.