The Annunciation (second half of the 19th century)

Reverse glass painting is a particular art form which is made in a completely different way to paintings using oil on canvas. It is a type of reverse painting in which the artist paints the back of the work, starting with contours and small details and finishing by applying a coloured background. The artist has to split the image into layers and then bring them together again on clear glass, a technique which requires great skill.

The black contours are applied under the glass using a goose feather. This is then followed by a white contour, after which the artist begins painting, graduating from dark tones to light.