Stained Glass by Lawrence Ysbrand Leopold (1934-2014)

Lawrence Ysbrand Leopold (1934-2014) was born and grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania where his father made leaded glass. Taking his artistic skill with his familial experience with leaded glass, the younger Leopold apprenticed in a stained glass shop in Florida in the 1950s until his boss encouraged him to move to Germany to learn from a master craftsman. For three years Leopold served an apprenticeship in Munich, Germany. In 1958, Leopold returned to this country and eventually opened a shop in New York City. In the late 1970s he moved to Connecticut. The New Haven Register (CT) - Sunday, May 28, 1989 wrote of Leopold: "Leopold is a master craftsman whose stained glass windows can be seen in churches and temples around the world. His work can be found in Germany, where he learned his skills as an apprentice, and in Vietnam, where he created a stained glass window for a memorial chapel. It can also be found in Mexico, South America, throughout the United States and in parts of Canada. Tucked away in the basement of the general store in Pleasant Valley, near the town of Barkhamsted, Leopold creates magic with colored glass, paint, a variety of hand tools, lead, a kiln and a bounty of God-given talent."

To create a piece of stained glass, the artist makes a sketch; once the sketch is approved or is acceptable, a cartoon, or pattern, is made on heavy paper the actual size as the window. The pattern is then cut and used to cut with special cutting wheels the colored glass that will be used in the window. Each piece is painted with a special paint and are fired in a kiln to permanently embed the paint into the glass. The pieces are assembled with flexible lead fitted around the edges of the glass pieces.

This collection includes sketches and cartoons for stained glass. The pieces were commissioned by churches, private schools, and private residences. Church designs are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. Among those; Mt. Zion, A.M.E., Danbury, CT; Trinity Episcopal, Torrington, CT; Advent Christian, Torrington, CT Immanuel Lutheran, Bristol, CT; St. Stephens Episcopal, Delmar, NY; The Church of St. Patrick, Farmington, CT; and the Chapel at Kent School, Kent, CT. Leopold is credited on many of the designs and layouts.

Collection includes designs (cartoons) for stained glass commissioned for churches, private schools, and private residences. Church designs are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. Among those; Mt. Zion, A.M.E., Danbury, CT; Trinity Episcopal, Torrington, CT; Advent Christian, Torrington, CT Immanuel Lutheran, Bristol, CT; St. Stephens Episcopal, Delmar, NY; The Church of St. Patrick, Farmington, CT; and the Chapel at Kent School, Kent, CT. Lawrence Ysbrand Leopold (1934-2014) is credited on many of the designs and layouts.