La Farge, << luh FAHRZH, >> John (1835-1910), was an American painter. In the 1860’s, La Farge painted many landscapes and still lifes of flowers that reveal a sensitivity to delicate shadings of light and atmosphere. During the 1880’s and 1890’s, he painted a number of murals in a style derived from Italian Renaissance art. La Farge visited Japan in 1886 and Polynesia in 1890 and 1891. These trips inspired a series of fresh, bright water colors. La Farge made an important contribution to stained-glass design by inventing new techniques for producing colors of remarkable brilliance. He designed richly colored stained-glass windows for the mansions of wealthy clients and for churches.
La Farge was born in New York City on March 31, 1835. He traveled widely and was part of an intellectual circle that included the American writers Henry Adams and Henry James. La Farge also lectured and wrote on art theory. He died on Nov. 14, 1910.
