Anna Maria Barbara Abesch (23 March 1706, Sursee

Sursee

Sursee is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Sursee is located at the northern end of Lake Sempach, not far from where the Sure river enters the lake , hence the name "Sursee"....

 – 15 February 1773, Sursee) was a Swiss

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 reverse glass painter

Reverse painting on glass

Reverse painting on glass is an art form consisting of applying paint to a piece of glass and then viewing the image by turning the glass over and looking through the glass at the image. Verre Églomisé is a commonly used term to refer to the art of cold painting and gilding on the back of glass...

 and the daughter of Johann Peter Abesch.

Abesch was the first professional reverse glass painter in Switzerland. More than 160 of her works (signed «ABVE») remain, and more than 120 other works are attributed to her.

Her paintings generally depict biblical scenes or saints, executed after mostly French engraving

Engraving

Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...

s. They were highly estimated even during her lifetime, and many remain in Swiss monasteries or private collections.