Customer Reviews

Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall: An Artist's Country Estate (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent and scholarly book filled with incredible photos and descriptions of LCT's home, Laurelton Hall. The author has written a series of fine chapters that look at all aspects of this magnificent residence. What the fire at Laurelton destroyed, this book restores with words and photos. For all of you who love Tiffany's artistry, this book is not to be missed!

Nicely put together and informative for those who are seriously interested in the life and works of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

This book is a serious art historical look at Louis Comfort Tiffany's Laurelton Hall, built on Long Island in the early nineteenth century. The house was Tiffany's "consummate statement on the transformative power of art, on how the integration of architecture, landscape, and setting can create a metamorphic experience of intense beauty." (p.59) The book is a collection of articles, including ones on Tiffany's earlier apartments and houses, his aesthetic interests, the building of Laurelton Hall, Tiffany's Asian and Native American collections, his vases, and more. One of the more entertaining chapters dealt with the life of the estate, which seemed like very F. Scott Fitzgerald world of flappers, tennis, and costume balls. There are copious color illustrations. Tragically, the house burned down in 1957, but much of the stained glass and other fixtures were saved. If you have an interest in early 20th century American art, artists' houses, or Tiffany himself, this is definitely worth getting.

I found this book very dry. I am a Tiffany fan and create Tiffany stained glass reproductions as a hobby. I think anyone who is not already a devotee should think twice about this book. I really doesn't add much to the information already out there. Cut and paste literature at best.