Astragal frame
Unknown Artist
late 16th to early 17th century
Medium
Poplar
Dimensions
Overall: 12 × 9 13/16 in. (30.5 × 25 cm) Sight: 7 3/4 × 5 11/16 in. (19.7 × 14.5 cm) Rabbet: 8 9/16 × 6 5/16 in. (21.7 × 16 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
1975.1.2136
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Astragal frame** from the late 16th to early 17th century exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Veneto, Italy—a region renowned for its Renaissance artistry centered in Venice. Carved from poplar wood, a lightweight and workable material favored by Italian framemakers, it measures 12 × 9 13/16 inches overall. The "astragal" design features a distinctive convex molding that creates a subtle, elegant profile, often used to enhance the visual depth and ornamentation of paintings during the Mannerist period. In Renaissance Italy, frames like this were not mere supports but int...