Nature was Louis Comfort Tiffany’s lifelong muse. His careful observations of the natural world were first seen in his landscape paintings and continued to be the inspiration for his decorative windows and lamps. Tiffany was interested in flora that was indigenous to North America as well as exotic species imported from foreign countries. He cultivated these species in his extensive gardens and greenhouses. An art critic at the turn of the century described Tiffany’s passion for the natural world:
“For years the artist has given himself up to the peculiar study of transmitting beauties of nature to elements of decoration. . . The garden is his school, the flower his companion, his friend, and his inspirer.”
The nature-based aesthetic is particularly evident in Tiffany’s translation of nature into glass.
These lamps, from the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass in NY, were the reason I came to the Biltmore Estate today. There were 45 stained glass lamps on display -- I loved being able to see these beautiful, unique works of art up close.
In honor of the Tiffany exhibit, there were dragonfly-shaped
designs made out of the plants in the garden area of the Biltmore Estate.
