The leading figures in the development and application of this technique were Frans Greenwood, Aert Schouman and David Wolff. Stipple engravings consist of many tiny dots made using a diamond-tipped stylus. The engraver could create intermediate shades by varying the distance between the dots, making it possible to achieve highly realistic scenes and especially realistic portraits. They would truly come to life when light fell on the glass from one side, or when it was filled with wine! The Rijksmuseum holds the world’s most important collection of 18th-century glasses with stipple engravings.
Getting started with the collection: