Munich-style

stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...

was produced in the Royal Bavarian Stained Glass Manufactory,

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

, in the mid-19th century. King Ludwig I opened the glassworks in 1827 which continued production of high quality glass until the early 20th century.

Franz Xaver Zettler Franz Xaver Zettler (1841-1916) was a German stained glass artist. Early life Zettler was born on 21 August in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, his father, Franz Xaver Zettler, was 27 and his mother, Ursula Oppenrieder, was 28. Career image:Oberndorf S ...

headed the operation for much of this time. Together with his major competitor,

Franz Mayer Franz Mayer Traumann, better known as Franz Mayer (1882, Mannheim, Germany – 1975, Mexico) was a German-Mexican financier, photographer and collector, and the founder of the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City. Biography Franz Mayer arrived in ...

of the Royal Art Institute, these stained-glass artists developed the so-called "Munich style" of expert painting on relatively large glass panels (as opposed to the medieval technique of smaller pieces of colored glass held in a leaded framework, later adapted and modified by the great American designer

Louis Comfort Tiffany Louis Comfort Tiffany (February 18, 1848 – January 17, 1933) was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is associated with the art nouveauLander, David"The Buyable ...

). Around 1862 the Franz Mayer of Munich Company started with stained glass paintings influenced by "Royal Bavarian Stained Glass Establishment". Their tendency was to create a picture-like composition similar to late Gothic paintings and Renaissance altars. The paintings were detailed. The style by Mayer and Zettler became known as "Munich style" and went back to the traditional roots. Small colored glass pieces were coated with overlay color, tracing lines and melting colors before being fired and leaded. The work by Peter Hemel von Andlau or

Hans Holbein the Elder Hans Holbein the Elder ( , ; ; – 1524) was a German painter. Life Holbein was born in the free imperial city of Augsburg (Germany), and died in Issenheim, Alsace (now France). He belonged to a celebrated family of painters; his father wa ...

set the standard for Mayer and Zettler and became the base of their work.

References

Companies established in 1827 Stained glass Manufacturing companies established in 1827 Manufacturing companies of Germany 1827 establishments in Bavaria Ludwig I of Bavaria {{glass-art-stub