Marriage Panel of Gabriel Weydacher and his wife Juliana Wemis with the Virgin and Child and Saints Barbara and Catherine 1519

This marriage panel was made in 1519 with stained glass and silver stain by Leonhard Beck, likely for the home of Gabriel Weydacher and his wife Juliana Wemis. The processes involved in creating this panel were highly specialized and required skilled artisans. The glass would have been carefully selected, cut, and painted with details using vitreous enamel. Silver stain was then applied and fired to create the vibrant yellows we see here. The result is a work that is both luminous and durable. The Weydachers were clearly wealthy enough to commission such a panel, which would have served as a symbol of their status and piety. The inclusion of the Virgin and Child and female saints suggests the importance of religious faith in their lives, while their coats of arms indicate an investment in family lineage and identity. Looking closely, we can see the artistry that went into this work. The lines are crisp, the colors rich, and the overall effect is one of refined elegance. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple materials like glass can be transformed into objects of great beauty and cultural significance, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.