Marquette Building - mosaics

The Marquette building is named for Father Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary and explorer who in 1674-75, wintered in the area that is now Chicago. One of the most outstanding features of the building is it's two-story hexagonal lobby. It has beautiful mosaic works interpreting moments in the life and death of Father Marquette.

The stunning mosaics are the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany and J.A.Holzer.. Holzer was chief designer for the Tiffany Glass and Decorating company. These mosaics are composed entirely of mother of pearl and Favrile glass.

From the MacArthur Foundation website.. click here..
“In this memorial rotunda, which is considered the most artistic and interesting portions of the building, [are]...three pictorial tablets descriptive of the events in the life of Marquette. These glass mosaic panels are certainly works of high artistic value.. a glowing series of pictures never before attempted in glass mosaic.”
- Architectural Reviewer, July 1897..



Words inscribed.. Firmly resolved to do all and to suffer all for so glorious an undertaking..



Words inscribed.. They answered they were Illinois and in token of peace presented the pipes to smoke..



Words inscribed.. To die as he had always asked in a wretched cabin amid the forest destitute of all human aid..





A couple of close-ups from the above mosaic panels..



AND MORE.. images of mosaic panels.. click here..
Apart from three mosaic panels, describing events from the life of Father Marquette.. there are other panels which are more like portraits..Since I could not cover all in one post..click here..

Please do not use or reproduce any of these images without written permission..

For more on..
# Marquette building.. click here..
# Marquette building - the lobby.. click here..
# Marquette building - mosaics.. click here..
# Marquette buillding - mosaics-II.. click here..
# Marquette building - bronze portraits.. click here..
# Marquette building - bronze doors.. click here..
# Marquette building - exterior bronzes.. click here..