Engaged arched cassetta frame and arched tabernacle frame

Art Historical Context

Step into the refined world of 15th-century Sien frame-making with this pair of exceptional arched frames from the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art The engaged arched cassetta frame, to around 1465, and the tabernacle frame, circa 1490, exemplify ornate architectural designs popular in Renaissance Siena. Cassetta frames, named for their box-like structure with recessed moldings, created a sense of depth, while tabernacle frames mimicked sacred niches with columnar supports and pediments, blurring the line between painting and sculpture. Crafted from poplar wood—a lightweight choice ideal for intricate carving—these frames feature masterful surface treatments: gilding over orange-red bole for a luminous gold effect, accented by blue and white paints and an overall greenish tone that adds subtle vibrancy. This polychrome gilding technique not only protected the wood but elevated the frames as standalone artworks, harmonizing with altarpieces or panel paintings they once housed. In Sienese culture, frames were status symbols and artistic partners to paintings, enhancing illusionistic effects during the Quattrocento transition from Gothic to Renaissance styles. Measuring about 46 × 29 inches overall, these survivors offer a glimpse into Siena's golden age of craftsmanship, where every curve and gleam told a story of devotion and opulence.