The Annunciation
Veneto or Tyrol, 16th C.
Moulded glass panel painted on reverse in eglomisé technique with gold and silver leaf and opaque and transparent pigments. Retouches, especially to the white. Red painted and ebonised wooden frame, H 32, W 28.5 cm.
The model for this important early reverse glass painting was an engraving by Marco Dente da Ravenna (1493 - 1527), who in turn published a drawing by Raphael. Marco Dente belonged to the circle of the engraver Marcantonio Raimondi (c. 1470 - c. 1534), one of the earliest reproduction artists who worked closely with Raphael.
This glass panel captivates with its sumptuous design in gold and silver leaf and the finely nuanced colour palette, which fills the black contours with life and is typical of early Tyrolean reverse glass painting.
Literature
Illus. in cat. "...welche zuweilen Kunstwerth haben". Hinterglasmalerei in Südbayern im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert", Murnau 2003, illus. 118.
Illus. in Steiner, Hinterglas und Kupferstich. Hinterglasgemälde und ihre Vorlagen 1550 - 1850, Munich 2004, p. 36 f.
Illus. in Steiner, "...denn ich verkünde Euch eine große Freude!" – Die Weihnachtsgeschichte in der Hinterglasmalerei 1550 - 1850, Mittenwald 2008, illus. 1.
Illus. in Steiner, Verborgene Schätze – Tiroler Hinterglasmalerei 1550 - 1850, Brixen 2009, illus. 2.
Exhibitions
2003 Schloßmuseum Murnau.
2005 - 2006 "Eleganz in Glanz", Barockmuseum Salzburg.
2008 Schaezlerpalais der Kunstsammlungen und Museen Augsburg.
2008 - 2009 Geigenbaumuseum Mittenwald.
2009 - 2010 Diözesanmuseum Hofburg Brixen.