Fragment
early 16th century (made)
Place of origin |
This fragment shows the head of a bearded man. The careful shading and modelling of the facial features with matt washes and stippling with the brown-black pigment would indicate that it was painted by someone trained in a Netherlandish workshop. Not enough of the original image survives for us to identify the man. It is likely that this image formed part of a larger panel in a church.
The fragment is decorated in a technique known as grisaille in which clear glass is painted simply with a brown-black pigment. Grisaille windows were produced as early as the 12th century. They not only let in more light than coloured glass, but were also cheaper to produce. Grisaille was not commonly used for figural images until the 15th and 16th centuries.
The fragment is decorated in a technique known as grisaille in which clear glass is painted simply with a brown-black pigment. Grisaille windows were produced as early as the 12th century. They not only let in more light than coloured glass, but were also cheaper to produce. Grisaille was not commonly used for figural images until the 15th and 16th centuries.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Stained glass: Clear glass painted in black-brown pigment |
Brief description | Fragment of clear glass with painted details in a brown-black pigment. Depicting part of the head of a middle-aged man. Netherlandish, early 16th century. |
Physical description | Stained glass fragment depicting the head of bearded figure. |
Dimensions |
|
Credit line | Given by Mr. Grosvenor Thomas |
Object history | This fragment has been placed in a panel with the following other fragments: C.328-1915, C.342-1915, C.393-1915, C.392-1915, C.391-1915, C.399-1915, C.66-1926, C.398-1915, C.64-19126, C.406-1915. C.399-1915 has been assigned the overall museum number for this panel. It was previously recorded as 19FR6. |
Historical context | This fragment is decorated in a technique known as 'grisaille' in which clear glass is painted simply with a brown-black pigment. Grisaille windows were produced as early as the 12th century. They not only let in more light than coloured glass but were also cheaper to produce. Grisaille was not commonly used for figural images until the 15th and 16th centuries. This fragment shows the head of a bearded man. The careful shading and modelling of the facial features with matt washes and by stippling with the brown-black pigment would indicate that it was painted by someone trained in a Netherlandish workshop. Not enough of the original image survives for us to identify the man. It is likely that this image formed part of a larger panel in a church. |
Summary | This fragment shows the head of a bearded man. The careful shading and modelling of the facial features with matt washes and stippling with the brown-black pigment would indicate that it was painted by someone trained in a Netherlandish workshop. Not enough of the original image survives for us to identify the man. It is likely that this image formed part of a larger panel in a church. The fragment is decorated in a technique known as grisaille in which clear glass is painted simply with a brown-black pigment. Grisaille windows were produced as early as the 12th century. They not only let in more light than coloured glass, but were also cheaper to produce. Grisaille was not commonly used for figural images until the 15th and 16th centuries. |
Associated objects |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | C.406-1915 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | November 5, 2002 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest