Among the most treasured features of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum are its original Tiffany stained glass windows, installed when the museum was completed in 1895. Created by the Tiffany Glass Company of New York City, these rare windows are among the few known examples of Tiffany work designed specifically for a museum building.

The windows represent an important moment in the career of Louis Comfort Tiffany, who began expanding beyond religious subjects in the 1890s to create works inspired by art, literature, and culture. In the Japanese Arms and Armor Gallery, windows honor renowned writers including Goethe and Molière, while those in the lobby celebrate the museum’s original disciplines of art, science, and literature. Additional windows feature symbols connected to the history of books and printing.

Designed as an integral part of George Walter Vincent Smith’s vision for the museum, the windows reflect the elegance and creativity of the Aesthetic Movement in American art. Following a careful restoration, completed in 2018, these extraordinary works of glass continue to illuminate the building and inspire visitors with their craftsmanship, color, and history.

Tiffany window restoration was completed with generous funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as well as support from a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.