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Tree of Life Window, from the Darwin D. Martin House, 125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo, New York

Tree of Life Window, from the Darwin D. Martin House, 125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo, New York

On View

Not currently on view

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright first used the Tree of Life motif in 1896 on a title page for a new edition of Keats as an emblem of oneness with nature. The Window from Darwin Martin House: Tree of Life (1982.7) in the Chazen features three Trees of Life in a row. More than 400 small squares and triangles representing foliage give a jewel-like effect to the composition. The mosaic-like appearance is enhanced by the brass leading that harmonizes with the greens and golds of the glass. A companion of the Chazen's window from the Martin house in Buffalo, New York, is in the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Artist
Frank Lloyd Wright
(American, 1867 – 1959)
Title
Tree of Life Window, from the Darwin D. Martin House, 125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo, New York
Date
designed 1904
Medium
Clear, iridescent, and opalescent glass in brass cames
Dimensions
40 1/2 x 26 in. Overall
Credit
Art Collections Fund and Alta Gudsos Fund purchase
Accession No.
1982.7
Classification
Architectural Decoration
Geography
United States

Related

ca. 1904, Darwin D. Martin (Buffalo, NY); 1960s, sold by restoration contractor [1] via anonymous individual (Buffalo, NY); 1981, sold by previously listed individual to Frumkin & Struve (Chicago, IL); 1982, sold to Elvehjem Museum of Art [1] in letter dated 06/09/1982, "In the 1960s, the Martin House in Buffalo underwent extensive renovations. At this time, an artist, living in Buffalo, bought the window from the contractor in charge of the project. The window was purchased directly from the site with the intentions that the capital so raised would help finance the restorations."

  • Boyd, Virginia Terry. "The House Beautiful: Frank Lloyd Wright for Everyone." Elvehjem Museum of Art Bulletin/Annual Report 1987-1988. Elvehjem Museum of Art (1990): 34-49. p. 49, no. 60
  • Boyd, Virginia, Terry Pfeiffer and Bruce Brooks. "Frank Lloyd Wright and the House Beautiful." Washington DC: Scala Publishing, 2005. p. 91, no. 50
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Handbook of the Collection." Elvehjem Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, 1990. no. 109
  • Menocal, Narciso G. "Form and Content in Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Tree of Life' Window." Elvehjem Museum of Art Bulletin, 1983-1984. Elvehjem Museum of Art (1984): 18-32. pp. 18-32
  • Fitzsimmons, Michael. "Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Tree of Life' Window." Allan Frumkin Gallery Newsletter, Number 14, Spring (1982). pp. 5-6
  • De Long, David G. "Frank Lloyd Wright and the Living City." Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein and 4 other venues, June 11, 1998-2000, Weil am Rhein and Milan: Vitra Design Museum and Skira, 1998. p. 18
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Bulletin 1983-1984." Madison: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 1984. p. 18, no. 1
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Artscene." Vol. 4, No. 4, Sept/Oct 1988. p. 5

  • Frank Lloyd Wright and the House Beautiful: International Arts & Artists, 2/14/2006–1/20/2008
  • Frank Lloyd Wright: Building the Living City: Vitra Design Museum, 6/11/1998–4/30/2000
  • Prairie School Architecture in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 9/4/1982–10/31/1982

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