About Picture Frames
Picture frames have been around almost as long as artwork itself. Painted borders have moved to carved boxes to the clip less, metal or plastic picture frames of today. Universally used to hang artwork of all kinds, the picture frame in all its forms is essential to creating a warm and interesting space. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Picture frames have evolved from painted or tiled borders on wall art to the gilded or gold plated three dimensional enclosures of today. Egyptian glyphs and tiled mosaics found in Pompeii all show that the early artist sensed a need to confine or separate his or her artwork from the surrounding walls or area. Once art came "off the wall" the need to create a boundary for it was evident.
Some of the earliest picture frames are found in religious art with their gold leafed alter pieces and diptychs. From there, the frame became a work of art all in itself. Ornately carved wood became part of the art for masterpieces and family portraits of the royals. Gold leafing or beautifully mixed stains were created to match or enhance the artwork.
The style of the frame has changed throughout history. Frames during the Renaissance consisted of a box with a decorative frieze applied under classically gold paint. Mannerist frames developed in the mid to late 1600's and reflected the metal movement of Britain and Italy. The Cabinet Makers frame is less ornate but equally beautiful featuring rounded edges and Flemish inspired stains and painted adornments.
Baroque, Roccoco and Palladin styled frames continued the journey of the picture frame and wavered back and forth between ornate carvings and stylized edges perfect for the paintings of the European Masters. The Neoclassical frames became popular in the mid 1700's with the upsurge of interest in antiquities. The instantly recognizable dental work patterns and rope edges provided less focus on the frame and put the light back on the artwork behind it.
Today's frames tend to be more functional and less showy than their historical brothers. Often simple boxes with straight lines and no adornments, modern picture frames have lost a lot of their craftsmanship for the sake of price and function.
Function
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The function of a picture frame is to protect the artwork behind the frame and to enhance the images. Usually frames hold glass to further protect the artwork and provide a way to hang photos, posters and paintings on a wall.
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Identification
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A picture frame is made up of moldings that form the four sides of the frame. A molding may be any color, created of wood, plastic or metal and either plain or ornately carved or styled. The corners of the moldings are nailed or clipped together and there is often a "gutter" cut into the front of the frame to hold the glass.
Size
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A picture frame can be custom created to fit any size image from postage stamp size to wall size. Standard size frames are widely available in sizes of 8 by 10 inches, 11 by 14 inches and poster size for everyday framing.
Considerations
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The framer must consider the colors and style of the artwork, the weight of the work and the decor of the room it is to be hung in. For example, a modern photograph would not look good in an ornate gold frame, so the framer may select a more modern, sleek design.
Benefits
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Picture frames are meant to protect the artwork and are invaluable when it comes to maintaining the condition of antique or vintage images. They allow the user to easily display photos, paintings or any flat image on a wall to decorate a room or office.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Playingwithbrushes ~ flickr.com
