At the height of the great Gothic revival in church architecture during the 19th century, stained glass windows enjoyed a renaissance. Already famous for their innovative designs, William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Ford Madox Brown were responsible for some of the most beautiful stained-glass windows of the 19th and 20th centuries. This lecture will look at the history of how ‘The Firm’ brought church windows to life with their new vibrant colors and sensuous designs. The languid faces of the saints and holy family were often modeled on real life portraits of their friends and lovers.

The presentation will be given by Geri Parlby, a former Fleet Street journalist. She has a Masters in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute and a Theology doctorate from Roehampton University in London. She has been lecturing for the past 18 years both in the UK and internationally.

Discover the remarkable artistic legacy of Giannini & Hilgart, a Chicago-based firm founded in 1899 that created exquisite stained glass installations across America. This talk will examine the firm's contributions to Chicago's historic Second Presbyterian Church alongside rarely seen residential installations in homes throughout the country, revealing how Giannini & Hilgart worked seamlessly with leading architects of the Progressive Era to create harmonious decorative environments. Through visual examples and historical context, attendees will gain an appreciation for the craftsmanship and creativity of one of America's most accomplished yet overlooked stained glass studios, illuminating a hidden chapter in American decorative arts history.

The presentation will be given by Ted Ellison who operates an architectural glass studio in Oakland, California, bringing more than 25 years of experience to creating one-of-a-kind stained glass installations for homeowners, architects, and designers.

Join us in the beautiful home of The Fortnightly of Chicago for our annual gala, Celebrating Frances Glessner.

Frances Macbeth Glessner (1848-1932) was an extraordinarily gifted woman. Her talents ranged from embroidery to silversmithing, and jewelry making to beekeeping. An accomplished pianist, she and her husband John were among the most devoted supporters of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra during the first four decades of its existence, regularly welcoming the leading musicians of the world into their home.

The event, styled as a summer garden party, will include small bites and beverages, and the opportunity to tour the former home of Bryan and Helen Lathrop, an 1892 Georgian Revival masterpiece by McKim, Mead & White, which has served as the home of The Fortnightly since 1923. Frances Glessner was an active member of The Fortnightly for more than 50 years and presented the organization with a beautiful silver sweetmeat dish in 1905, which will be on display.

A brief program will include a welcome from the current president of The Fortnightly, remarks on Frances Glessner and her impact on Chicago, and the presentation of the annual John and Frances Glessner Award.