Verre Églomisé: The Art of Reverse Glass Painting

What Is Verre Églomisé?

Verre églomisé is the art of reverse glass painting — applying paint, and often gold or metal leaf, to the back of a glass or acrylic surface so the image is viewed through the glass from the front. The result is a depth and luminosity that no painting on canvas can match: light passes into the surface and seems to glow from within, shifting as you move around the work and as the light changes through the day. It is a centuries-old technique, painstaking and unforgiving — every stroke is applied in reverse, and there is no room for correction. In the hands of Christopher Martin, it has become the foundation of a bold, contemporary body of work.

The Name & Its History

The term verre églomisé comes from Jean-Baptiste Glomy, an 18th-century French art dealer and framer associated with the technique. But the practice is far older — reverse glass painting appears across centuries and cultures, from decorative panels to devotional works. For a fuller history, see our history of verre églomisé.

The Technique

Because the work is built in reverse and viewed through glass, the artist must work back-to-front: the details that will sit closest to the viewer are painted first, the background last. It demands total command of composition and sequence. The glass itself becomes part of the piece — protecting the paint, deepening the color, and giving the surface its signature reflective quality.

Christopher Martin's Contribution

Christopher Martin has spent decades pushing reverse glass painting into contemporary, large-scale abstraction. His works — sweeping arcs of light over luminous fields of color — bring a modern, architectural sensibility to an ancient technique. Exhibited at the 55th Venice Biennale, Kips Bay, Hall Arts, and Art Aspen, his pieces anchor private and corporate collections around the world.

See Available Works

Explore Christopher Martin's reverse glass paintings currently available, or inquire about a custom commission for your space. [CTA: available works / inquire]