Astragal frame
Unknown Artist
early 17th century
Medium
Poplar
Dimensions
Overall: 40 7/8 × 36 in. (103.9 × 91.5 cm) Sight: 34 13/16 × 30 3/16 in. (88.5 × 76.7 cm) Rabbet: 37 1/2 × 32 11/16 in. (95.2 × 83 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
1975.1.2093
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we spotlight the *Astragal Frame*, a exquisite example of early 17th Italian craftsmanship from the Veneto region Crafted from poplar wood—a lightweight, workable material favored for its fine grain and affordability—this frame measures an impressive overall 40 7/8 × 36 inches, with a sight opening of 34 13/16 × 30 3/16 inches, designed to elegantly encase paintings or mirrors. In the vibrant artistic hub of Veneto during the early Baroque era, frames like this were far more than mere supports; they were integral to th...