Reverse frame
Unknown Artist
ca. 1640
Medium
Poplar. Mitered. Gilt; brown-orange bole.
Dimensions
Overall: 61 1/2 × 53 13/16 in. (156.2 × 136.7 cm) Sight: 42 3/4 × 34 3/16 in. (108.6 × 86.8 cm) Rabbet: 44 1/8 × 35 3/4 in. (112 × 90.8 cm)
Classification
Frames
Culture
Southern Italian or Bolognese
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1852
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Reverse frame* from circa 1640, to an unknown Southern Italian or Bolognese artisan, exemplifies the opulent framing traditions of the Baroque era. Crafted during a time when Italy's artistic like Bologna flourished under the influence of the Counter-Reformation, frames were not mere supports but integral complements to paintings, enhancing their drama and spirituality in palaces and churches. Housed in the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1975, this reflects the period's emphasis on grandeur and illusionistic effects. Made of poplar wood with p...