Oval Frame With Naturalistic Decoration Of Flowers, Fruits, And Foliage Louis XIII Period.

A large oval frame from the Louis XIII period, made of carved and gilded oak, featuring abundant naturalistic ornamentation around its perimeter consisting of flowers, fruits, and foliage rendered in high relief.

The wide outer molding is entirely covered with a continuous, freely arranged, and deeply carved plant motif. The decoration notably features oak branches laden with acorns, blooming roses and their buds, as well as poppy flowers, recognizable by their broad corollas and central capsules. Other serrated foliage accompanied by berries evokes holly, while several deliberately varied flowers and plant elements complete this composition.

The various species intertwine seamlessly around the oval. Upside-down leaves, open flowers, and buds, as well as berries and fruits, are rendered with vigorous, deeply carved detail, giving the whole a particularly naturalistic character.

A wide, plain groove separates this plant motif from the inner molding. The design is accentuated by a frieze of heart-shaped motifs, carved in a regular pattern, which serves as a transition between the abundant exterior decoration and the opening intended to hold the painting.

This ornamentation of plant garlands combining oak leaves, acorns, flowers, fruits, and berries is entirely in keeping with the repertoire of French frames from the Louis XIII period. Several frames preserved in public collections display this same taste for broad moldings covered with naturalistic vegetation, a stylistic vocabulary that would continue into the early years of Louis XIV’s reign.

The decoration retains its original leaf-gilding, creating a contrast between matte and burnished areas. Signs of wear and age occasionally reveal the preparatory layers and the underlying wood, offering insight into the various stages of the gilding process.

The reverse side reveals the frame’s construction, made entirely of solid oak. The various pieces forming the oval are joined by dovetail joints, characteristic of the manufacturing techniques used for this type of frame in the 17th century. The irregularities in the wood grain, tool marks, and the rough, unfinished appearance of the reverse also attest to its historical origin.

The frame shows old signs of wood-boring insect damage. It has undergone curative treatment and selective consolidation of the weakened areas. Wear, minor damage, and previous restorations are consistent with the frame’s age and history of use.

Louis XIII period, 17th century.

Exterior dimensions: H. 83 × W. 73 cm Visible dimensions: H. 67 × W. 55 cm Frame rebate: H. 70 × W. 57.5 cm