Rococo frame
Unknown Artist
mid-18th century
Medium
Pine
Dimensions
Overall: 24 1/4 × 18 7/8 in. (61.6 × 48 cm) Sight: 21 × 15 3/4 in. (53.3 × 40 cm) Rabbet: 21 15/16 × 16 9/16 in. (55.7 × 42 cm)
Classification
Frames
Culture
Italian, Venice
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.2222
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the opulent Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, exquisite Rococo frame hails from mid-18th-century Venice, Italy. Crafted pine—a lightweight yet sturdy wood favored for its carvability—this frame exemplifies the city's mastery of decorative arts during the height of the Rococo movement. Measuring 24¼ × 18⅞ inches overall, with a sight opening of 21 × 15¾ inches, it was designed to elegantly encase paintings, elevating them as integral parts of the artistic ensemble. Rococo style, flourishing across Europe after the Baroque era, brought a lighter, more playfu...