Measuring 15 by 49 feet, Dream Garden was produced by the Tiffany Studios in 1916, using over 1000,000 pieces of favrile glass, each hand-fired to achieve perfection in each of the 260 colors.
"It was a huge picture to be done in glass mosaic. The space to be filled called for over a million pieces of glass, and for a year the services of thirty of the most skilled artisans would be required. The work had to be done from a series of bromide photographs enlarged to a size
hitherto unattempted. But at last the decoration was completed; the finished art piece was placed on exhibition in New York and over seven thousand persons came to see it. The leading art critics pronounced the result to be the most amazing instance of the tone capacity of
glass-work ever achieved. It was a veritable wonder-piece, far exceeding the utmost expression of paint and canvas.
For six months a group of skilled artisans worked to take the picture apart in New York, transport it and set it into its place in Philadelphia. But at last it was in place: the wonder-picture in glass of which painters have declared that 'mere words are only aggravating in describing this amazing picture.' Since that day over one hundred thousand visitors to the building have sat in admiration before it.
The Grove of Academe was to become a Dream Garden, but it was only after six years of incessant effort, with obstacles and interventions almost insurmountable, that the dream became true."
hitherto unattempted. But at last the decoration was completed; the finished art piece was placed on exhibition in New York and over seven thousand persons came to see it. The leading art critics pronounced the result to be the most amazing instance of the tone capacity of
glass-work ever achieved. It was a veritable wonder-piece, far exceeding the utmost expression of paint and canvas.
For six months a group of skilled artisans worked to take the picture apart in New York, transport it and set it into its place in Philadelphia. But at last it was in place: the wonder-picture in glass of which painters have declared that 'mere words are only aggravating in describing this amazing picture.' Since that day over one hundred thousand visitors to the building have sat in admiration before it.
The Grove of Academe was to become a Dream Garden, but it was only after six years of incessant effort, with obstacles and interventions almost insurmountable, that the dream became true."
(From: The Americanization of Edward Bok.)
~Faith
