The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

by Gail Clifford MD (subscribe)

While hosted by Visit Orlando on a recent press trip, we had the opportunity to visit the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum in Winter Park, Florida, viewing one of the largest collections of Louis Comfort Tiffany's glass in the world. Mr. Morse's granddaughter, Jeannette Genius McKean who made Winter Park her home as an adult after visiting her grandfather so often as a girl, married Hugh McKean who had completed an internship with Tiffany glass earlier in his life.



First housed on Rollins College campus, the collection outgrew that space, especially after the couple rescued as much as possible from Tiffany's Laurelton Hall. His Long Island, New York home collapsed during a fire, and it was the quick work of Jeannette and Hugh that saved so many panels of this precious work.



Entering the museum, you'll have the opportunity to view two videos describing the museum and its history. They've done a great job keeping a connection to the public as they offer these online as well.

The Tiffany Chapel, an 11-minute video, describes Mr. Tiffany's creation, an elaborate chapel interior installed in 1893 for the Chicago World Fair.




From the cubist-like cross to the motif built into the altar with each of the Gospel's Saints having a reflection of Tiffany's image of them, the chapel is a place which many people bow respectfully, though it has no religious affiliation. It is a calm place from which to contemplate the beauty of the work of this man who brought the joy of color and art into people's homes.

The Museum also supports an audio tour which you can listen to while in the Museum or from your home. I highly recommend you come to visit, though, as it is impressive to listen to but astounding to see.



If you follow the tour, the chapel isn't until nearly the end. Before that, you can view how many different mediums Tiffany found to work with. There are his lamps, of course.



But also jewelry and furniture.



And household items like dishes and vases.



And the most astounding windows and panels. Some of these took my breath away. You can stand and view them from different angles and explore how the light changes based on your position.



While we were there, several students with cameras rushed through the museum. What a great idea! I'd love to have a photography class in there. From the custom furnishings of the Daffodil Terrace to the American art representing the Arts and Crafts area to the elaborate chapel both large shots and detailed shots, they are limited only by their imagination.

I suspect that's what the McKeans had in mind having devoted their lives to this work. It is through their hard work, dedication, and financial investment, that this museum continues to serve the community to shed light on the importance of art throughout our world.



Inspired by nature's color and beauty, I suspect Mr. Tiffany would agree.

And later this month, opening Oct 18th, a new installation, The Ayer Mansion, will allow us to view one of Louis C. Tiffany's most complete residential commissions. The building, on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, sold so will no longer be available for public access. We're told we can expect furnishing from the Gilded Age entrusted to the Morse Museum as they've proven themselves excellent caretakers of Tiffany's own home treasures.

I can't wait to go back to see it.



While our entrance fee was hosted by Visit Orlando and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum, the opinions herein are my own.

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