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"Labour & Health", After Thomas Barker of Bath Pastoral Reverse Glass Painting

ca. early 1800s

$3,500
£2,614.33
€3,030.90
CA$4,859.66
A$5,447.06
CHF 2,836.12
MX$66,510.89
NOK 36,008.45
SEK 34,132.77
DKK 22,613.81
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About the Item

SALE ONE WEEK ONLY This exceptional painting of a smoking peasant carrying a scythe with his daughter or wife in a rustic setting was created by the rare and difficult technique of reverse glass painting. The original painting that this reverse glass painting is reproducing is by Thomas Barker of Bath and was originally painted sometime in the late 18th century as an engraving of this work was made by engraver Thomas Gauguin in 1799 and has a style reminiscent of later period pastoral paintings. Thomas Barker was born in 1769 near Pontypool in Monmouthshire in England. A self-taught artist, he began young in copying Dutch and Flemish masters before becoming an exhibitor at the Royal Academy where his prolific works earned him a large amount of popularity. Thomas Barker of Bath was a popular subject for art reproduction in his lifetime owing to his rustic subject matter and he earned himself a small fortune from these reproductions of his works. In reverse glass paintings the medium utilized is glass. The reverse refers to paint being applied to the reverse side of the glass. Traditionally in painting the base layers are applied first and accents and highlights come after, but in reverse glass painting the order is reversed. As a result of this, reverse glass painting is a very meticulous and difficult process that requires a great deal of proficiency in the craft for the work to come out as magnificently as this painting is.
  • Creation Year:
    ca. early 1800s
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 20.25 in (51.44 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Detroit, MI
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU128618095432

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