As an art form, vitreography is a style of contained

3-dimensional Three-dimensional space (also: 3D space, 3-space or, rarely, tri-dimensional space) is a geometric setting in which three values (called ''parameters'') are required to determine the position of an element (i.e., point). This is the informal ...

scenes displayed in a shadow box frame.

Process and effect

Elements of the scene are isolated and drawn/painted on separate, suspended

glass Glass is a non-crystalline, often transparent, amorphous solid that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optics. Glass is most often formed by rapid cooling ( quenching ...

panes. The elements merge in the shadow box frame, utilizing the glass' transparency, to give a layered dimensionality to the scene and its components. Depending on the angle of perception, background, ground, and foreground will all interact differently. Through this method the artist is given a new axis of expression with which to experiment and engage an audience. In this way, vitreography may be seen as the fine art rendition of the

Ken Burns effect The Ken Burns effect is a type of panning and zooming effect used in film and video production from still imagery. The name derives from extensive use of the technique by American documentarian Ken Burns. This technique had also been used to prod ...

, giving new dimension and life to still images.

Origins

Both the particular art form and the application of the term "vitreography" were pioneered by the French-American artist Jean-Pierre Weill, Weill having

trademarked A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from others. ...

the word in 1992. Painting on successive glass panes to add real-world dimension to a depiction is seen by some as the natural bridge between the arts of sculpting and painting. What distinguishes vitreography from other stacked glass pane paintings is that each level of a vitreography largely maintains its independence, creating scenes within a larger scene rather than a singular amalgamation.

Vitreography today

Vitreography remains a fringe art form, as few artists experiment with the technique. Nonetheless, Weill has earned acclaim for his vitreographs, which sell for thousands of dollars.Adamm's Stained Glass Studio and Art Gallery, accessed 31 Dec 2013, URL -http://www.adammsgallery.com/zcom/product/Product.do?compid=31&prodid=9474

References

{{Reflist Glass art Painting techniques