Drawing of Exochorda

ca. 1885–1905

Not on view

Documentary sources about the Tiffany Studios describe that the designers’ studios were hung with drawings of nature studies that the artists would use as inspiration for their work in glass, enamel, or pottery. This drawing of Exochorda, or Pearlbush, presents an important, and beautiful, part of the design process. In addition, it is signed by Tiffany’s most important woman designer, Agnes Northrop, who began her career with Tiffany in the mid-1880s and worked there throughout until the studios closed. Tiffany relied heavily on Northrop’s facility in drawing landscapes and gardens that would then be incorporated into the studios' window designs. Northrop has chosen to depict a flowering branch of the flowering shrub, as well as two small single sprays of buds and leaves. She also painted in a highly detailed fashion a single blossom head on, evidence of her close observation of nature.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Drawing of Exochorda
Artist: Agnes F. Northrop (American, Flushing, New York 1857–1953 New York, New York)
Date: ca. 1885–1905
Culture: American
Medium: Watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper
Dimensions: 24 7/8 × 15 3/8 in. (63.2 × 39.1 cm)
Mat: 28 × 22 in. (71.1 × 55.9 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Chilton Jr. Gift, 2020
Object Number: 2020.89
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

By Agnes F. Northrop

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Design for a landscape window, Agnes F. Northrop American, Watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper, American — Design for a landscape window
Agnes F. Northrop
Tiffany Studios
1916

3-part Garden landscape window for Linden Hall, Agnes F. Northrop American, Leaded Favrile glass — 3-part Garden landscape window for Linden Hall
Agnes F. Northrop
Tiffany Studios
1912

Garden View, Brooklyn, Fidelia Bridges American, Watercolor and gouache, with traces of graphite underdrawing, on tan hot-pressed wove paper, American — Garden View, Brooklyn
Fidelia Bridges
ca. 1867

In the Generalife, John Singer Sargent American, Watercolor, wax crayon, and graphite on white wove paper, American — In the Generalife
John Singer Sargent
1912

Brook and Meadow, John Singer Sargent American, Watercolor, gouache, and graphite on white wove paper, American — Brook and Meadow
John Singer Sargent
ca. 1907

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