Woman in the Window - by Carolyn Swan Needell (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Woman in the Window follows the exciting rediscovery of the missing glass from the Chrysler Museum of Art's iconic Tiffany window Woman in a Pergola with Wisteria.

In 1911, the studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany created a beautiful stained glass window for a lavish Gilded Age mansion called Pembroke on Long Island. Commissioned by Captain Joseph Raphael De Lamar, a Dutch immigrant who made a vast fortune mining in the American west, the imagery of the window has long remained an enigma.

Now, new historical research by the Chrysler Museum of Art has led to the exciting rediscovery of three lost panels from this window and uncovered the hidden history of the window's significance and meaning. Woman in a Pergola with Wisteria depicts the renowned American opera singer Lillian Nordica (1857-1914), who is portrayed as the titular character of Verdi's opera Aïda. This publication reveals the poignant relationship between De Lamar and Nordica, telling the story of their lifelong friendship and the sea captain's unrequited love for the singer, which he immortalized in Tiffany stained-glass.

Woman in the Window accompanies an eponymous exhibition in 2027 at the Chrysler Museum of Art.

About the Author

Carolyn Swan Needell has served as the Carolyn and Richard Barry Curator of Glass at the Chrysler Museum of Art since 2018. Recent publications include The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art (2024), and Barbara Earl Thomas: The Illuminated Body (2023).

Caleb Eick is a classical singer, scholar, and administrator serving as director of Advancement and Curatorial Affairs at The Sembrich, Bolton Landing, NY. His scholarly research focuses on operatic personalities of opera's Golden Age, and he has lectured for organizations including Opera Saratoga, The Hyde Collection, and the New York Singing Teachers Association.

Jacqueline Tsang is the research fellow at Macklowe Gallery, New York City. She has curated gallery exhibitions, including Tiffany in Color and René Lalique: Collectors Reserve.