English Sunderland style frame, 1600's. Wood with oil gilt finish. Overall: 27.9 x 22.9 x 5.7 cm Anonymous Gift, 1994 © Art Gallery of Ontario.
Located on Level 1 in Reuben Wells Leonard Rotunda (Gallery 115)
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Not merely ornamental, a frame offers protection for an artwork, and an outlet for the artist and patron's artistic vision. Home to one of the largest and most important collections of frames in any museum worldwide, the AGO has, of late, undertaken significant efforts to conserve and catalogue them.
This focused installation, a collaboration between the museum’s Curatorial and Conservation teams, presents more than 30 wooden frames from the AGO’s Collection. Dating from the 16th to 19th centuries and sourced from across Europe, these intricate artworks offer a survey of an often-overlooked artform. This exhibition is curated by Adam Harris Levine, AGO Associate Curator, European Art; Eric Birkle, Marie Zimmermann Fellow European Art; and Julia Campbell-Such, Assistant Conservator, Frames.
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