Design of Altar Rail for St. Paul's Church, Troy, New York
The altar rail based on this design exists, slightly altered, in St. Paul’s Church in Troy, New York, where it was installed after major renovations in the 1890s. The rail was commissioned by Sarah McCoun Vail Gould (1821–after 1880), wife of George V. Gould (1807–1868), Troy mayor and Supreme Court judge. The inscription on the reverse dedicates it “To the memory of Sarah Vail Voorhees” (1846–1872), the couple’s daughter, who presumably died in childbirth. The symmetrical filigree floral design is influenced by both Islamic geometric tiles and window screens, which were frequently employed in architectural settings both domestic and public.
Artwork Details
- Title: Design of Altar Rail for St. Paul's Church, Troy, New York
- Artist: Louis C. Tiffany (American, New York 1848–1933 New York)
- Designer: Probably Jacob Holzer (American (born Switzerland), Péry 1858–1938 Florence, Italy)
- Maker: Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company (American, 1892–1902)
- Date: ca. 1895–98
- Geography: Made in New York, United States; Country of Origin USA
- Culture: American
- Medium: Watercolor, pen and a variety of inks (metallic bronze, brown and black), and graphite on off-white wove paper-faced illustration board with original warm grey window mat
- Dimensions: 9 3/16 in. × 17 in. (23.3 × 43.2 cm)
Other (Design): 4 3/16 × 13 9/16 in. (10.6 × 34.4 cm)
Mat: 14 1/4 × 19 1/4 in. (36.2 × 48.9 cm)
Framed (AW B): 16 1/4 × 21 1/4 in. (41.3 × 54 cm) - Credit Line: Purchase, Walter Hoving and Julia T. Weld Gifts and Dodge Fund, 1967
- Object Number: 67.654.423
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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