Reverse ogee frame
Unknown Artist
ca. 1645
Medium
Poplar. Carved, gilt; red-brown bole.
Dimensions
Overall: 68 5/16 × 51 5/8 in. (173.5 × 131.2 cm) Sight: 60 5/8 × 43 1/2 in. (154 × 110.5 cm) Rabbet: 62 5/8 × 45 1/2 in. (159 × 115.5 cm)
Classification
Frames
Culture
Italian, Neapolitan
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1876
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of 17th-century Naples with this stunning *Reverse Ogee Frame*, crafted around 1645 by an unknown Italian Neapolitan artist. Fashioned from poplar—a soft, workable wood ideal for intricate carving—this frame exemplifies the Baroque era's love for drama and grandeur. Its reverse ogee profile features elegant, flowing S-shaped moldings that curve inward then flare outward, creating a dynamic rhythm that draws the eye. Measuring over 68 inches tall, it's designed to encase a sizable painting (sight size: 60⅝ × 43½ inches), elevating the artwork like a golden throne. T...