Jacques Gruber (1870 – 1936) French Stained Glass artist and designer

Stained glass by Jacques Grüber. Gran Vitral Tiffany del Hotel Ciudad de Mexico
Stained glass by Jacques Grüber. Gran Vitral Tiffany del Hotel Ciudad de Mexico

Jacques Gruber (1870-1936) was a French stained-glass artist, designer, and teacher, born in Sundhausen, Alsace. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, under Gustave Moreau. He was distinguished as a designer in the Art Nouveau idiom.

Between 1894-97 he worked for the Daum glassworks, designing intricate figurative vases; learning the art of engraving, and rendering decorations for Wagner’s operas. He taught and profoundly influenced painter and tapestry designer Jean Lurçat, poster designer Paul Colin, and architect Andre Lurçat at Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Nancy. He designed furniture for Majorelle, ceramics for the Mougin brothers, and bookbindings for Rene Wiener. He was the founder of the School of Nancy.

Vitrail Jacques Gruber, pour les grandes brasseries de Saint-Nicolas de Port
Vitrail Jacques Gruber, pour les grandes brasseries de Saint-Nicolas de Port

In 1900, set up his manufacture design and manufacture furniture, acid-etched cameo glass that was incorporated into his furniture pieces, wallpaper, and stained glass, closing in 1914. The glass for the tea room and cupola of Les Galeries Lafayette department store, Paris, was by Gruber. His interest in furniture gradually diminished, although he had previously designed models with Adolphe Chanaux. In 1914, he moved to a studio in the Villa d’Alésia, Paris. He focused on secular and religious stained glass in a full-blown geometric style retaining figuration. In 1936, his son took over the business. His commissions included the cathedral’s choir in Verdun, the steel factory in Nancy, and the French embassies.

His work was shown at Salons of Societe des Artistes Decorateurs from 1908 and Societe des Artistes francais, Salon d ‘Automne, and at Museum Galliera, Paris. He received numerous awards, and his stained-glass panels were in several pavilions and shown at 1925 Paris ‘Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes.

Fougères Vase by Jacques Gruber
Fougères Vase by Jacques Gruber | Musée d’Orsay
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