Roundel of clear glass painted with enamels and yellow (silver) stain. Depicting Christ and the Storm on the Sea of Galilee and a coat of arms. Made in Switzerland, dated 1667.

Roundel of painted glass. In the upper part is the subject of Christ and His Disciples in the tempest on the Sea of Galilee, inscribed :
Matthaei. VIII
Below is a shield bearing the canting arms, two arrows in saltire, of Dr. Wernnerus Pfeil, parish priest of Steinerberg, Canton Schwyz, with an inscription and the date 1667. Six disciples are seen in the boat, and in the distance are a city and figures on the shore of the sea. The shield of arms is surmounted by a helmet with crest and mantling. The painting is in dark browns, silver yellow and enamel colours, the design being partly executed by the use of the point.

Bequeathed by Mr Henry Vaughan

Formerly in the collection of Henry Vaughan.

The biblical story depicted on this panel is taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew (8:23-27). Jesus Christ and his disciples are on a boat, sailing on the Sea of Galilee. A tempest arises and the disciples panic and beseech Christ for help. He rebukes them for their lack of faith and then calms the storm.

This story was often portrayed to show that even in the darkest hour, faith in God will protect you.

The arms, two arrows in satire, are those of Dr. Wernerus Pfeil, parish priest of St. Anna in Steinerberg, in the Swiss canton Schwyz.

The painting is attributed to Michael Muller IV who was a glass-painter in Zug in Switzerland. Glass-painting workshops were numerous in Switzerland in the 16th and 17th centuries. The skill of the Swiss painters was renowned at the time and their works were highly collectable in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The roundel is painted in enamels on clear glass. In the middle of the sixteenth century, new techniques for producing decorated glass were introduced. Glass paints known as 'enamels' were used to paint directly onto the glass; similar to painting onto a canvas. The colours were produced by adding metallic oxides to a glass frit mixture and the resulting colour range included delicate pinks, reds and purples.

The biblical story depicted on this panel is taken from the Gospel of St Matthew (8: 23-7). Jesus and his disciples are on a boat, sailing on the Sea of Galilee, when a tempest arises. The disciples panic and implore Christ to help them. He rebukes them for their lack of faith and then calms the storm.

This story was often portrayed to show that faith in God will protect us, even in the darkest hour.

The arms, two arrows in satire, are those of Dr Wernerus Pfeil, parish priest of St Anna in Steinerberg, in the Swiss canton Schwyz.

The painting is thought to be by Michael Muller IV. who was a glass-painter in Zug in Switzerland. There were numerous glass-painting workshops in Switzerland in the 16th and 17th centuries. The skill of the Swiss painters was famous, and in the 19th and 20th centuries their works were highly collectable.

The roundel is painted in enamels on clear glass. In the middle of the 16th century, new techniques for producing decorated glass were introduced. Glass paints known as 'enamels' were used to paint directly onto the glass; similar to painting onto a canvas. To produce the colours, metallic oxides were added to a glass frit mixture. The resulting colour range included delicate pinks, reds and purples.

2276-1900