Works of Art in the Lobby

Two bronze pillars seemingly hold up this window as you gaze into a multicolored sky. This polychromatic effect was made with opalescent and favrile glass. Opalescent glass is created in glass factories to display streaks of color unique to each glass panel. Depending on the quantity of colors used in the glass, the glass replicates the kaleidoscopic qualities of opal stones. The two window panels #4 and #6 are part of the Resurrection (#81) window collection, forming a tall picture with a large colorful sky.

Joan of Arc stands proudly with her sword in one hand and three pillars in her other hand, showing her faith in the Holy Trinity. Joan of Arc is the patron saint of France who went from a French peasant girl to a military leader during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) between France and England. Saints and angels counseled Joan of Arc, telling her to aid her country during the war. After winning the trust of King Charles VII's royal court, Joan donned armor and joined the battles against the English, leading them to victory.

Just like its twin, this window is also made of opalescent and favrile glass. Louis C. Tiffany, the founder of Tiffany Studios, developed favrile glass. Opalescent glass is known as "American stained glass" and was developed by both Louis C. Tiffany and John La Farge, another painter and window maker. Despite developing the same product, Tiffany Studios, John La Farge, and the Duffner & Kimberly Company were all competitors in the glass industry during the late 19th century.

This dome window depicts Jesus rising to heaven during the Ascension. The forest surrounds the entire scene with clouds swirling around Jesus, enhancing the perspective of Jesus rising above the viewer. The ascension theme is popular in Christian artwork as it is a central part of the religion to believe that he resurrected after death and united with God in heaven. The corresponding holiday is the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, celebrated on the fortieth day of Easter but varies among Christian denominations.

LEFT: Orthodox Mary (Theotokos)

These brilliant golden mosaics follow the Byzantine Empire mosaic style (c.395-1453). The handmade square tiles may be made of glass with gold leaf to form a “gold ground” behind the figures. Theotokos is the name of the Holy Mary in the Eastern Orthodox Christian church; it is Greek for "mother of God," or "God-bearer." The "ΜΡ ΘΥ" over Mary's head is an abbreviation for her Greek title as Mother of God.

RIGHT: Jesus Christ (Christ Pantocrator)

The Christ Pantocrator image is commonly seen in Orthodox Christian art and has a longstanding tradition, with one of its earliest paintings being from around the 6th century. This mosaic is a replica of the prominent Deësis mosaic of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Türkiye that dates to approximately 1261. Christ Pantocrator may be translated from Greek to "Christ Almighty." The letters surrounding the image of Christ "ICXC" are a Christogram, a monogram representing the name of Christ.

This is the twin window of the #8 Shadow of Darkness: Ornamental Window and part of the Shadow of Darkness set. The passionflower is an established emblem of Jesus's death, with the legend of the flower tracing back to the early 15th century when a friar first described the flower to a monk. They concluded that the flower's three stigmas represented the nails during crucifixion, the flowers' sharp filaments represented Jesus's crown of thorns, the ten petals were the ten faithful apostles, and the leaves were St. Longinus's spear that pierced Jesus's body.