Roundel with Susannah and The Elders 1520

This roundel depicting Susannah and the Elders was made in the early 16th century by Pseudo-Ortkens, using stained glass. Look closely, and you will notice that this isn't simply painted. The artist used multiple pieces of glass, carefully cut and assembled. This laborious process, akin to creating a mosaic, demanded immense skill and planning. The subtle gradations of tone were achieved by applying thin layers of vitreous paint, and silver stain to the back of the glass, which, when fired, gave the characteristic yellow color. The very nature of glass – its fragility, its transparency, its capacity to transmit light – lends the image a sense of ethereal beauty. But it’s not just about aesthetics. This roundel would have been commissioned and displayed as a status symbol in the home of a wealthy family, celebrating both wealth and devotion through an expensive, time-consuming craft. By appreciating the glassmaker's technical mastery, we can understand the cultural values embedded in this seemingly simple image.