History of framing
 

The History of Framing Part II

Following on from the article on the History of Framing that Gill Turner from Country Picture Framing wrote in the Autumn Edition of Cornwall Arts she would like to tell readers about some of the worlds most famous artists and their own attitudes to framing.

"A picture without a frame is like a soul without a body".

Legend says Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) made this remark although there is no trustworthy written source. However, even if he didn't say it he could easily have done so, because evidence in the letters he wrote to his brother, Theo, emphasise how important framing was to him. "I can only finish my pictures when they are framed" he wrote. Another letter tells how, even though he was so poverty stricken, he spent a months rent on frames.

Many other leading artists of the 19th and 20th century have felt passionately about the frame to the extent of developing original concepts of framing or making them themselves. Indeed Degas stated "It is the painter's duty to make sure that he frames his pictures properly and the frame should harmonise with the picture, supporting its effect and not destroying it, as an elaborately worked gold frame would". Degas was always deeply concerned that someone might change one of his frames and had been known to either buy the painting back or actually prise the frame off if a collector had changed his own choice of frame for a gold one.

Henri Matisse however, took a very different view of gold frames. He declared, "A painting has to go in a gold frame. But no worry! If the painting is good it will outdo the gold".

So as you see there are many differing opinions about what is a right for a painting but one thing that most artists agree on is that in nearly every case a frame is essential to enhance the painting to its maximum potential.


The painter Alexei Von Jawlensky said "I always found it more difficult to find the right frame than to paint a picture" and many years ago the artist Ruskin Spear said to an aunt of mine, "A bad painting needs a good frame and a good painting deserves one......"

If you need a work framed, why not pay a visit to Country Picture Framing in Porthtowan near Truro and take advantage of both their expertise and excellent craftsmanship. For further information  contact us now.