New-York tribune., 1908-04-08
THE PEACOCK WINDOW.
Il Triumph in Stained Glass by Mr
John La Farge.

Beauty in stained glass is no new thing in this
country. 1t has been created over and over again
for years by Mr. John La Fargo, whose genius TOR
this medium has been of peculiar service to the
development of American art. But nothing that
Mr.. La Fargo himself has done in the past
has had quite the significance which attaches TO a
work in stained glass that he has recently COM
pleted The Peacock Window" occupies place
apart It is indeed something more than WIN
dow. and in that fact lies its exceptional interest
We ruled by convention Ii IS the mission OF
the painter paint; the sculptor is expected 10
abide by the rules of plastic art, and, OF course
ii is obviously desirable that both artists should
avoid hybrid methods. But is i; equally certain
that the man who works in stained glass should
only make windows; that his art should De gov
erned by purpose half utilitarian and haIf Deco
rative? Is there any reason why design executed
in this medium should not exist in and Tor ltseII
The question is answered by this masterpiece winch
Mr.. La Fargo has produced. just for the sheer
pleasure to be got out Of the manipulation OF
wonderfully potential substance.
The window-if for convenience. we must use the
terIn-is upright panel of modest dimensions
perhaps forty inches high and little less than
half wide. Filling a good part of the space IS
a peacock of glorious plumage- The mead ana
body are well up in the higher zone OF the com
position, that the colors Of the hack and OF
the tail feathers to flow as in a kind Of ir1-
descent waterfall down toward the watery green
background a the bottom. This background,
which has fairly light tone at the base OF the
design, deepens gradually it ascends through
gradatiOns of dark blues and darker purpes. Here
and there, either side of the bird, there Is a
mass of rosy but quiet color These episodes are
provided by the big peonies which the artist has
chosen for his floral motive. Their lovely hues are
made the lOvelier through contrast with dark
rich LEAKAGE. Set within these broader elements OF
color is the proud blaze of the peacock feathers
They fairly flame and yet this work is in moth
ing artistic than in its fusion OF unnunl-
bered glowing tints into positively reposeful har-
mony. It is though the artist had taken d
thousand precious stones and then filtered the sun
light through them. but had always remembered
TO arrange his jewels. TO blend or contrast
them, that in the ensemble they should preserve
something of that subtle and mellow unity which
you find in divers norninally gorgeous things,
such Oriental rugs. the arabesques of the Al
hambra or ordinary fireworks In other words, this
is the very poetry of stained glass. d vision OF
sensuous loveliness realized in medium which IS
notoriously obstinate. but which is here made to
serve the designers purpose readily as pig
ulent serves it
1t must be added, too that The Pea cock Win
dow" is not picture-an attempt TO do in glass
what one might do in paint. On the contrary, its
virtue lies in fact thar il has the charac-
only extorted from glass; IL expresses the
very genius OF medium. You feel this on looking
closely into the texture of the thing. You how
that background. TO which reference has already
been made, possesses just the depth and trans
parency which lie beyond the reach of the brush.
I Ou see now the thin InrsdOS OF metal play part
of their own, and indispensable part, toward the
production OF the charm of the whole You see,
finally, how with glass alcne Mr.. La Fargo could
gain the strength lent by touch OF blazing ruby
amid his hues Of emerald. sapphire and topaz, or
with tiny apertures a hundred points allow the
light TO sift through like so much diamond dust
1t is the kind Of work to stir painters soul and
make him wish from his familiar occupa-
tons and experiment in glass Only IL takes years
of experiment acquire the mastery shown IN this
panel
The fame of Mr.. La Farges work in stained glass
as travelled far. The examples he exhibited N
Paris some years ago left profound impression,
and recently his achievements have awakened keen
interest elsewhere on the Continent A window Of
his In the home OF Alna-Tadema, the painter, at
tracted the enthusiastic attention OF Emperor Will
lam. Following his intervention, and believing that
the study OF his work would be OF high advantage
TO German artists and craftsmen, DR.. Bode, the d.
rector Of the Berlin Museum, sent 10 Mr. La Farge
cordial invitation to make elaborate eXhlbI-
ton of his designs stained glass in that insttu-
ton Il is a pity that ii has not been practicable
for the artist to make this demonstration abroad
Meanwhile II is be hoped that The Peacock
Window" may find permanent home where 1t
would be accessible 10 our own connoisseurs and
r c