Thirty-five panels of stained glass windows depict the transfiguration of Christ as he hovers above the ground, surrounded by a glowing light, revealing his divine nature to disciples James and John.
Crafted more than a century ago, the restored panels, their colors ranging from sky blues to deep oranges, reflect sacred imagery long used in Christian churches to tell biblical stories through art.
Yet this work, which is 13 feet tall and 10 feet wide, was never intended to be on display at the Akron Art Museum, a 15-minute walk from its former home at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The circumstances that led to this transformation include a 2018 fire; Tony Troppe, a developer whose real estate portfolio leans heavily into preservation; and Rachel Libeskind, the daughter of an architect. She saw more in the Tiffany window than sacred imagery…