Glass painters 19th century
Edmond Bille was a Swiss artist. Bille engaged in intense and varied activity as painter, engraver, stained glass artist, journalist, writer, and politician. He is the creator of the stained glass windows around the altar of the Cathedral of Lausanne, capital of the Swiss canton of Vaud.
Hans Christiansen was a German painter, representative of classical modernism, decorator and illustrator.
Christiansen trained as a decorative painter in Flensburg and then at the School of Applied Arts in Munich, later studying at the Académie Julian in Paris. After a study trip to Italy in 1889, he moved to Hamburg, where he taught at the Technical University.
At the same time, Christiansen worked as a freelance decorative artist and was active in the Volkskunst-Verein, and was one of the founders and first residents of the Darmstadt artists' colony of the late 19th and early 20th century. Together with Josef Olbrich and Peter Behrens, he designed furniture, ceramics, tapestries, stained glass and graphic posters. He also designed his own house in the colony, which he called "Villa Rose," which was destroyed during World War II.
During this time, the versatile artist also wrote regularly for the magazine Jugend, creating many illustrations and covers. From 1911 he lectured at the Wiesbaden School of Arts and Crafts and was a member of the Wiesbaden Free Artists Association.
In 1933, Christiansen's work was banned by the Nazi Party of Germany because of his Jewish wife, and he was almost forgotten until his death in 1945.
Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale was a British Pre-Raphaelite painter, illustrator and stained glass artist.
At the age of 17, she enrolled at Crystal Palace School of Art and was later admitted to the Royal Academy of London and she initially worked with illustration. In 1897, Eleanor won a prize for her painting "Spring", which allowed her to begin work on her first large-scale oil painting, "The Pale Color of True Love". The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1899.
In 1902 Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale was elected the first female member of the Institute of Oil Painters. She illustrated many books, including Tennyson's Royal Idylls in 1911. She taught at the Byam Shaw School of Art in Kensington. During the First World War, the artist designed posters for government departments and later several commemorative stained glass windows and a memorial in York Cathedral. In 1919 she became a member of the Royal Society of Watercolor Painters.
Karl Wilhelm Kolbe the Younger was a German painter of the first half of the 19th century. He is known as a painter-genre painter and stained glass artist, nephew of the famous painter Karl Wilhelm Kolbe.
Early in his career, Kolbe the Younger won a competition at the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts with his drawing "The Doom of Froben at the Battle of Verbellin". He favored historical subjects, inspired by the Dutch tradition. The famous painting "Albrecht Achilles seizes the banner in the battle of Nuremberg" was purchased from him by the city of Berlin as a gift for Princess Louise of Prussia. The master also created stained glass windows for the Marienburg Castle in Prussia, some of which are now in Berlin's Old National Gallery.
John La Farge was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.
La Farge is best known for his production of stained glass, mainly for churches on the American east coast, beginning with a large commission for Henry Hobson Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston in 1878, and continuing for thirty years. La Farge designed stained glass as an artist, as a specialist in color, and as a technical innovator, holding a patent granted in 1880 for superimposing panes of glass. That patent would be key in his dispute with contemporary and rival Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Burkhard Mangold was a Swiss artist, poster designer, illustrator, painter, graphic artist, and stained glass artist. He created murals and was a pioneer of Swiss poster art, developing a unique style of his posters. He has been called the "grandfather of the Basel School.
Bernhard Neher was a German painter of the mid-nineteenth century. He is known as a painter, a master of historical and religious painting.
Neher studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts and enriched his style in Rome. Returning to Munich, he created an impressive panoramic fresco on the Isar Gate. He later decorated a palace in Weimar with frescoes, became director of the Leipzig Academy of Arts and later of the Royal School of Art in Stuttgart. In this city he created his best works - the famous glass stained glass windows for various churches and castles. His works are outstanding monuments of German religious painting.
Victor Noble Rainbird was a British painter, stained glass artist and illustrator.
Victor Noble Rainbird studied at King's College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he distinguished himself and won several prizes. His paintings were included in a government exhibition which travelled to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Reinberd's work often depicts views and the waterfront and sea around North Shields and other Tyne harbours. He made several trips to France, Belgium and the Netherlands, and the bulk of his work focuses on his travel experiences. Rarer subjects include stained glass windows, portraits and still lifes (flowers).
Georges Rouault was a French painter, printmaker and ceramicist whose profound works combined art and spirituality, making him a key figure in the contemporary art world. Born into a modest family in Paris during the turbulent times of the Paris Commune, Rouault's early exposure to art came through his grandfather's collection of lithographs by Honoré Daumier. His initial apprenticeship in a glazier's workshop had a profound influence on his artistic style, especially his work with stained glass, which later became a hallmark of his painting technique.
Rouault's career took a significant turn under the tutelage of Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau, who introduced him to avant-garde circles, leading Rouault into the Fauvist movement alongside Henri Matisse. However, Rouault's unique approach was characterized by a more instinctive and spontaneous style that was deeply influenced by Vincent van Gogh and which eventually led him to Expressionism. His works from this period, dealing with subjects such as courts, clowns, and prostitutes, served as a form of moral and social criticism, motivated by his deep Christian faith and concern for human nature. This period marked a significant evolution in Rouault's style; his paintings reflect a mixture of religious iconography and human suffering, demonstrating his mastery of conveying deeply emotional and spiritual stories.
One of Rouault's most notable contributions to art was his involvement in the scenography for Sergei Diaghilev's ballet The Prodigal Son and his famous series of paintings and prints such as Miserere. His later works are renowned for their explosive use of color and texture, highlighting his mastery of expressing the spiritual harmony and beauty of nature. The end of Rouault's career was marked by a gesture of humility and dedication to his craft: he destroyed a significant number of his unfinished works, feeling that he could not complete them to his satisfaction.
Rouault's legacy has been preserved through his impressive works in renowned museums and galleries around the world. His art continues to inspire and resonate with collectors, experts and lovers of art and antiques, serving as a testament to his enduring influence on the art world.
For those deeply interested in exploring the life and work of Georges Rouault, it is important to stay abreast of new discoveries, sales, and auction events related to his art. We encourage you to subscribe to updates so that you don't miss out on the opportunity to engage with the legacy of this remarkable artist. This subscription will be your gateway to the world of Georges Rouault, offering exclusive insights into his contribution to contemporary art.
Christoph Christian Ruben was a German-Austrian painter of the mid-nineteenth century. He is known as a painter and graphic artist, a master of genre painting and a teacher.
As a genre painter, Christian Ruben created atmospheric paintings that were reproduced in prints and lithographs and were widely distributed and recognized. From 1826 he lived and created in Munich, where he also worked on the design of new stained glass windows for the cathedral in Regensburg. From 1832, the master was engaged in murals in Hohenschwangau Castle. As a teacher, Ruben headed the Prague Academy of Fine Arts and was the head of the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts from 1852 to 1872.
Henry Ryland was a British painter, book illustrator, decorator and designer. He exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery, and from 1890 at the Royal Academy. He also was a regular exhibiter at the New Gallery and the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (formerly the New Society of Painters in Water Colours). He became a full member of the latter institution. Although he did paint in oils, he specialized in highly finished watercolour paintings containing images of young women in classical draperies on marble terraces. His watercolours were widely reproduced as prints. Ryland also designed stained glass and his woodcuts were used in a number of magazines, including the English Illustrated Magazine in the 1880s and 1890s.
Franz Wenzel Schwarz was a German-Bohemian painter of the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He is known as a portrait painter, master of historical genre and glass artist.
Schwarz created many portraits of churchmen, scholars, high officials, major businessmen, as well as children and women. He also created many religious paintings and stained glass windows for churches. He was a member of the Society of Artists of Vienna and other artistic associations. In the later part of his career, Schwarz concentrated on creating genre and portrait paintings, selling them to various countries, including America and Russia. Between 1912 and 1918, he copied paintings from the Old Masters Picture Gallery in Dresden.
Louis Comfort Tiffany, an American artist, is revered for his significant contributions to the Art Nouveau movement and for revolutionizing the art of glassmaking. As the son of the founder of Tiffany & Co., Charles Lewis Tiffany, Louis was predisposed to a life surrounded by opulence and artistry. His early years were marked by training under prominent painters and a comprehensive education in the arts, which included a stint at the National Academy of Design in New York.
Louis Comfort Tiffany's foray into the world of stained glass was not merely an extension of his artistic pursuits but a manifestation of his relentless quest for innovation and beauty. His early work with stained glass utilized materials with mineral impurities, lending his pieces a distinct quality that set them apart from the conventional. His dedication led to the opening of his own glass factory in Corona, New York, where he developed and patented the "copper foil" technique. This method, contrasting sharply with the traditional lead came technique, allowed for greater detail and complexity in his stained glass creations.
Louis Comfort Tiffany's contributions weren't limited to stained glass; his ventures into lighting and lamps in 1898 brought about iconic designs that combined functionality with aesthetic beauty. His lamp designs, characterized by their unique selection of glass and organic forms, are celebrated for their intricate detail and artistry. Tiffany's work also extended to mosaics, enamelwork, pottery, and jewelry, showcasing his versatility and innovative spirit across multiple mediums.
Perhaps one of Louis Comfort Tiffany's most majestic installations is the Mosaic Curtain at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. Commissioned for its exceptional craftsmanship, the curtain is a testament to Tiffany's mastery over glass, reflecting his ability to blend artistic vision with technical prowess. This monumental piece, composed of nearly one million pieces of favrile glass, illustrates a vibrant landscape that comes to life under changing light conditions, embodying the essence of Art Nouveau's fascination with nature and innovation.
Louis Comfort Tiffany's legacy is a rich tapestry of artistic achievement that has left an indelible mark on the worlds of art and design. His work, characterized by a deep appreciation for the natural world and a pioneering approach to materials and techniques, continues to inspire and captivate collectors and art enthusiasts around the globe.
For those interested in exploring the depth and beauty of Tiffany's creations, staying updated on new discoveries, exhibitions, and auction events related to his work is essential. Signing up for updates ensures that enthusiasts and collectors are always informed about opportunities to engage with the magnificent legacy of Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Dirk van der Aa, also known as Theodorus van der Ha or Thierry van der Aa, was a Dutch Rococo painter, graphic ornamentalist. He was a member of the Guild of St. Luke in The Hague. He was primarily an interior painter and became known for his painterly decorative allegories and works executed in monochrome grisaille technique.
Franz Xaver Zettler was a German stained glass artist. He started his own stained glass design company in 1870. He designed some of the stained glass in the Deutsche Evangelische Christuskirche in Knightsbridge, London in 1904-1905. He designed a window depicting The Crucifixion that today stands in Badin Hall.