LOOK PAST THE ART
Museums are a journey into the art and history of frames.
Most museums arrange their collections in chronological order. As each gallery leads to another period you see how much society and current events inform frame design.
During the late Middle Ages, religious paintings on panels became the foundation for church altars and private chapels. These stunning examples of architectural picture framing can be seen in the Italian collections of historical museums.
With the Renaissance, art took on a more natural form with scenes from daily life and the personal portraits of the newly minted rich. These glamorous portraits demanded equally important frames that were secular by design.
Follow the progression in style from 16th century Italian and Spanish frames through the reigns of the Habsburgs and their French counterparts. Study the dark ebonized finishes of Northern Europe and the elaborate carvings in the court of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The 19th century and the Industrial Revolution brought new technologies to picture framing that we still use today.
Visit your local museum and spend an afternoon in the best frame shop in town.
