Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Gift to American Art: The Laurelton Hall Foundation

Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Gift to American Art: The Laurelton Hall Foundation

In 1919, famed artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany turned his passion for beauty into a living gift for generations of American artists. With the establishment of the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation, he opened eighty acres of his Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall, along with a million-dollar endowment, to nurture creative talent.

Tiffany’s idea was simple yet groundbreaking: provide artists with inspiring surroundings, access to great works of art, and freedom from daily cares so they could fully dedicate themselves to their craft. The Foundation’s first trustees included leading figures in American art such as sculptor Daniel Chester French and architect Cass Gilbert, with Stanley Lothrop appointed as director.

Laurelton Hall was no ordinary estate. Tiffany himself had designed and built it, from the architecture and gardens to the rugs, furniture, and even the smallest decorative details. The property blended wild nature with cultivated beauty, and its galleries overflowed with Tiffany’s collections of fine and applied arts from around the world.

The Foundation welcomed artists aged 18 to 80, offering private rooms, shared meals, studios, and access to the grounds for just $10 a week — with fellowships for those unable to pay. Tiffany’s vision rejected rigid academic “schools” in favor of encouraging individuality, imagination, and craftsmanship across painting, sculpture, jewelry, and decorative arts.

While open first to men, the program planned to expand to women and eventually run year-round. Tiffany and his director aimed to create a haven for “real workers” in the arts — those with discipline and dedication — while steering clear of the pitfalls that often plagued artist colonies. However, it wasn't until 1946 that the foundation shifted its focus from operating an artists' retreat to awarding grants to artists that facilitated a more inclusive approach, allowing for the admission of women artists.

About 10 years later in 1957, Laurelton Hall was destroyed by fire and it was no longer in use as an artist's retreat. However, some architectural elements from Laurelton Hall were salvaged and are now preserved at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida. In 2010, the museum opened new galleries to display these artifacts, providing a glimpse into the grandeur of Tiffany's estate.

After the fire that destroyed Louis Comfort Tiffany's Laurelton Hall in 1957, the estate's 600-acre grounds were sold and subdivided. The original mansion was never rebuilt, and much of the land has been developed into residential properties. However, a few remnants of Tiffany's grand estate still exist today, including: The Minaret (Smokestack): The tall, tower-like smokestack from the estate's power plant remains standing. This structure, often referred to as the "minaret," is one of the most visible remnants of Laurelton Hall and is pictured on the left in the background. The Loggia also survived: A loggia, or covered porch, from the estate is one of the last remaining pieces of the original Laurelton Hall.