The Good Shepherd by Tiffany Studios

Tiffany Studios (American, 1885–1928)
The Good Shepherd, circa 1900
Leaded favrile and painted enamel glass
97 x 35 in.

This leaded glass window exemplifies the devotional imagery and technical innovation associated with Tiffany Studios at the turn of the 20th century. Depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd, the composition draws upon a longstanding Christian iconography symbolizing guidance, sacrifice, and pastoral care. Christ is shown tenderly holding a lamb while standing among his flock, framed by Gothic architectural elements that evoke the ecclesiastical settings for which such windows were originally conceived.

Tiffany Studios, evolving from the earlier Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company, revolutionized stained glass through the development of favrile glass—an iridescent material prized for its depth of color and painterly qualities. Rather than relying heavily on painted details, Tiffany artisans achieved subtle modeling through the careful selection and layering of richly varied glass, producing lifelike textures in drapery, landscape, and sky.

Windows of this type were typically commissioned as memorials or focal points within churches, combining spiritual narrative with artistic refinement. The harmonious palette of jewel-like reds, blues, and golds, together with the balanced architectural framing, reflects the studio’s ability to merge medieval inspiration with distinctly American craftsmanship, resulting in works that remain among the most celebrated achievements of decorative art in the early modern period.