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Reviving the Gilding Arts Etched and gilded glass (Fr. Verre églomisé) Ancient artisans from many cultures have used gold as a medium and as a color in precious works of art.  Since Roman times glassware has been decorated with gold leaf.  Most of the glass gilding is in the Museums of Europe and America.  In 19th Century England, window painting utilized glass gilding as a in a technique known as "reverse painting" in which the gold leaf and oil paint appear together.   But historically there us no evidence of glass gilding as a dedicated art form until Phyllis Parun reintroduced this beautiful medium in a contemporary context. Gilded Bas-Relief Aztecs and Africans tooled gold sheets over wooden sculpture.  Most of this goldsmithing was stolen and melted down by European conquerors.  Only small amounts of it are now left for us to view in museums.  The love of the beauty of gold has prompted artist-sculptor Phyllis Parun to carry this traditional medium into the 21 century.  She has created stunning bas-reliefs with 23K gold leaf on embossed metal.  Ms. Parun has created a modern medium that has the beauty of sheet gold at far less than the price. Panel Painting Traditional Panel Painting is a very beautiful art that has been lost to the contemporary world, which Ms. Parun has elected to revive.  Panel making was practiced in Europe in 16th and 17th century by Giotto and Cellini. It is a medieval art rarely seen outside of Cathedrals of Europe.  Each of Ms. Parun's panel paintings are prepared in the traditional French and Italian way as it has been performed for over 3,000 years.   After laying 14 layers of gessoed muslin over wood, Ms. Parun incises her design, gilds it with 3 layers of the best 23k gold leaf, burnishes the gold and completes the required oil painting.       Phyllis Parun has distinguished herself for her fine gilding craftsmanship.