Western Europe, probably Italy, ca. 17th century CE. A lovely reverse painted glass featuring a woman gazing over her bare shoulder. Capped by a lengthy, brunette braid, the youthful beauty presents a naturalistic visage shown in three-quarters view as she extends her right arm and a yellow cloth drapes down her back. A lustrous copper border surrounds the woman, followed by a modern, gilt wood frame. Size (without frame): 2.8" W x 3.1" H (7.1 cm x 7.9 cm); (with frame): 3.3" W x 3.6" H (8.4 cm x 9.1 cm)

Reverse glass painting, also known as "verre eglomise" in French or "Hinterglasmalerei" in German, is a centuries-old practice of painting a piece of glass and then viewing it from the other side. This causes the artist to have to think in reverse and start with the details of the painting before adding larger blocks of color. The practice has been widely used for sacral paintings since the Medieval period. Most famous for the reverse glass paintings of the Byzantine Empire, the practice then spread to Venice, where it influenced Renaissance art, and became favored by the Church and nobility throughout Central Europe. It continued as a widely popular folk art through the 19th century.

Provenance: ex-private collection of actor Anthony Quinn and his wife Katherine, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA acquired prior to 2000

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#169235

Some losses to copper and paint on peripheries. Staining and chipping to pigment in areas. Otherwise, very nice. Minor nicks to modern gilt wood frame. Remains of collection label on bottom.