Cassetta frame
Unknown Artist
mid-16th century
Medium
Poplar
Dimensions
Overall: 20 7/8 × 17 3/8 in. (53 × 44.2 cm) Sight: 14 7/16 × 11 1/8 in. (36.7 × 28.2 cm) Rabbet: 15 3/16 × 11 3/4 in. (38.6 × 29.9 cm)
Classification
Frames
Culture
Italian, Veneto
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1634
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of Renaissance framing with this exquisite *Cassetta frame* from mid-16th-century Veneto, Italy. Crafted from poplar wood—a lightweight, workable choice favored for its fine grain—this frame exemplifies the refined artistry of Venetian workshops during the High Renaissance. The term "cassetta," meaning "little box" in Italian, refers to its characteristic recessed, box-like profile: a flat outer molding framing a raised inner sight edge, designed to cradle and elevate paintings with subtle sophistication. Measuring 20⅞ × 17⅜ inches overall, with a sight opening of ...