Head of a Woman
Unknown Artist
ca. 1440–60
Medium
Colorless glass, vitreous paint, and silver stain
Dimensions
Overall: 5 3/8 x 3 1/2 x 1/8 in. (13.6 x 8.9 x 0.3 cm)
Classification
Glass-Stained
Culture
French
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Sarah B. Sherrill, in honor of her grandfather, Charles H. Sherrill (1867–1936), 2012
Accession Number
2012.405
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Head of a Woman*, crafted around 1440–60 in France, exemplifies the refined artistry of late medieval stained glass. Measuring just 5⅜ × 3½ inches, this small panel—made from colorless glass enhanced with vitreous paint and silver stain—likely formed part of a larger church window. The silver stain technique, a 14th-century innovation, allowed artisans to fire gold-toned hues directly into the glass, creating luminous yellows and flesh tones that glow brilliantly in transmitted light. Vitreous paint added fine details like facial features and hair, showcasing the precision of an...