Reverse glass painting already existed among the peoples of Egypt, Phoenicia, and Syria, where the idea of enclosing thin, engraved gold leaves between two layers of glass originated. The processes of cold decoration spread wherever Oriental glassmakers settled: Rome, Gaul, Byzantine Greece. In Rome, the technique is believed to have been transmitted to the first Christians by Jewish artisan traders. Gaul, which became France, also preserved the traditions of glassmaking techniques, which truly flourished in the 12th century with the stained-glass windows of churches. At the same time, cold decorations were not forgotten, as evidenced by the glass plates painted on the reverse side of the walls of the Sainte Chapelle in Paris. From Rome, via Byzantium, the technique of reverse glass painting passed to the Venetians.

Introduced from the end of the Middle Ages, this technique reached its full maturity from 1550 until around 1650, driven by two discoveries: in the 16th century, the Murano glassworks managed to manufacture clear and pure glass thanks to the white sand of its beaches. This great Venetian era constitutes the true starting point of reverse glass painting in Europe. The process is thought to have spread via Tyrol towards Germany and Bohemia. The 18th century saw the radiance of this art in France, England, Holland, and Germany, especially as glass became inexpensive and was produced in plates, sheets, or panes. Southern Germany saw the predominance of Augsburg, where reverse glass painters left mannered works, influenced by the Baroque art that was then triumphant. In France, one finds gallant scenes, landscapes, ruins, or pastoral scenes.

Many glassmakers reproduced the masterpieces of the great painting masters. Their refined miniatures are described as 'erudite' (or sophisticated). They are often the work of recognised artists whose compositions are elaborate, colour schemes harmonious, and technique perfect. Parallel to this erudite reverse glass painting, a popular and naive reverse glass painting developed from the beginning of the 19th century, a true social expression of the peasant, working-class, and lower middle-class world. Its starting point is the vast area comprising Bavaria, Bohemia, and Lower Austria. In the 20th century, in Europe, reverse glass painting did not completely disappear; its production was limited to a few artists and artisans. Only the countries of the Maghreb, Senegal, and Asia continue to practise this ancestral art on a large scale.

Famous Signatures

In the 18th century:

Thomas Gainsborough (1728-1788)

Claude Joseph Vernet (1714-1789)

Le baron Gros (1741-1835)

In the 19th century:

Frans-Jan Bruloot (1861-1917)

Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)

Alexandre Lamartinière (1783-1867)

Petrus Nefors (1798-1876)

In the 20th century:

Camille Bombois (1883-1970)

Marcel Duchamp (1880-1916)

Francis Picabia (1879-1953)

Paul Klee (1879-1940)

Auguste Macke (1887-1914)

Man Ray (1890-1976)

Vassily Kandinsky (1866-1944)