19th century, Landscape with waterfall and figures Oil under glass

19th century, Central European area
Landscape with waterfall and figures
Oil under glass, diameter 11,5 cm – Frame 21,5 x 21,5

The painting examined, executed on glass, represents a landscape with a small waterfall, a stream and a farmhouse. Some figures animate the scene: a man in traditional clothes is in the foreground, while another female figure is heading towards the house. The background is characterized by lush trees and mountains blurred in the distance, creating a sense of depth.
Given the technique and style, the work could belong to a 19th-century Central European context, perhaps to the German or Austrian landscape school. At that time, glass painting was widespread in areas such as Bavaria, Tyrol and Bohemia, where it was produced both in a popular context, especially in examples for domestic devotion, and in more refined workshops.
The refined landscape is made on glass, or “verre églomisé,” a technique in which colors are applied to the back of a sheet of glass. The image is visible from the other side, giving a particular brightness and depth to the scene. This method requires great skill, as the finest details must be painted first, followed by the background elements.
During the 19th century, this technique was popular both for the production of religious and votive images, as well as for genre scenes and landscapes, often intended for bourgeois furnishings or for the decoration of small objects and furnishings.