Wilhelm Lapp
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Framed: 2 7/8 × 2 1/8 in. (7.3 × 5.4 cm)
Classification
Glass-Painted
Culture
German
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Martin, 1938
Accession Number
38.145.167
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate painted glass portrait, titled *Wilhelm Lapp*, hails from 19th-century Germany and the profile of a distinguished man adorned with insignia—likely symbols of military, civic, or professional honor. Created by an unknown, the diminutive work measures just 2 7/8 × 2 1/8 inches when framed, making it a perfect example of intimate, personal art objects prized in European homes. Painted on glass, a technique celebrated in the decorative arts for its vibrant translucency and resistance to fading, this piece exemplifies German craftsmanship of the era. The medium allowed artists to lay...