CHICAGO, IL.- A stunning achievement in stained glass, the monumental Hartwell Memorial Window made its Art Institute debut today. With dazzling light and vibrant colors, the window captures the sublime beauty of nature, depicting Mount Chocorua, one of New England’s most beloved peaks, at sunset. This recently acquired work—designed by Agnes F. Northrop for Tiffany Studios—was a commission from Mary Hartwell in honor of her husband for the Central Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island.

Located at the top of the Art Institute’s Grand Staircase near the Michigan Avenue entrance, the magnificent Hartwell Memorial Window greets visitors with radiant beauty for many years to come. This exhibition is included in general admission to the museum and does not have a virtual line.

The design of the window is attributed to Agnes F. Northrop, the firm’s leading landscape window designer. At twenty-six feet high by eighteen feet wide, and made up of 48 different panels, the scene depicts a distant view of Mount Chocorua, one of the most beloved peaks of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Numerous landscape painters including Thomas Cole and John F. Kensett memorialized the mountain as a powerful symbol of the American landscape. In its scale, intricacy of design, and complexity of glasswork, it is one of the largest and most ambitious landscape window projects ever undertaken by Tiffany Studios.

This majestic window had been housed in the sanctuary of the Community Church of Providence. Speaking on behalf of the church, Pastor Evan Howard noted: “Our congregation decided to find a new home for the window where it could be experienced by a broad public audience that includes scholars, artists, and visitors from around the world. The church approached a number of different museums and ultimately selected the Art Institute of Chicago as the ideal institution to care for and display the window.” Added Pastor Howard, “We are extremely pleased that this exceptional work of art has entered such a renowned collection.”

Sarah Kelly Oehler, Field­–McCormick Chair and Curator of American Art stated: “Landscape windows are rare within the overall production of Tiffany Studios, and the opportunity to acquire such a superlative example of Tiffany glass is one that will likely never be repeated. The Art Institute has a strong commitment to collecting the work of women artists, and we are especially thrilled to showcase Agnes Northrop, whose vision truly shaped the aesthetic of Tiffany Studios. This acquisition positions the museum as a leading institution for visitors to experience the artistry and vitality of stained glass as it joins other works in the medium, especially the iconic America Windows by Marc Chagall. We are thrilled to be the stewards of this remarkable and deeply resonant work of art for future generations.”