A Legacy in Glass and Form
Joep Nicolas was a Dutch-born French ecclesiastical artist who specialized in stained glass and sculpture. Born in Roermond, Limburg, he came from a family whose stained glass atelier dated back to 1855. His diverse artistic practice also included work as a muralist, book illustrator, cartoonist, costume designer, and portrait painter. In 1935, he applied for a patent for a glazing technique he described as vermurail.
His career was marked by significant international recognition, including receiving grand prix awards for stained glass in Paris, Milan, and Brussels. He served as a member of the art jury at the 1937 Paris World's Fair and was associated with Rambusch Studios in New York City. His daughter, Hortensia Margaretha Maria Sylvia Nicolas, also became a stained glass artist.
Notable Works and Commissions
The breadth of Nicolas's work spans various mediums and religious settings. His stained glass contributions include:
- A stained glass with crucifixion located in the Vatican Museum
- Windows in the Oude Kerk, Delft
- Windows in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- Windows in St. John Bosco Chapel, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Windows in Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport, Connecticut
- Windows in Trinity Episcopal Church, Upperville, Virginia
Beyond glass, his portfolio includes the 1944 cartoons for "The Four Freedoms," murals for the Home for Netherland Seamen and the Post Office in Coldwater, Ohio, and a portrait of Hendrik Willem van Loon. He also designed the December 1940 cover of Fortune Magazine.
