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    Louis Style: French Frames, 1610-1792

    September 15, 2015–January 3, 2016

    Getty Center

    Louis XIII frame

  • Portrait of a Young Man in Military Costume

    Portrait of a Young Man in Military Costume, 1650, Bartholomeus van der Helst, oil on canvas, in a Louis XIII frame, carved and gilded oak. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • Louis XIV frame

    Louis XIV frame, carved and gilded oak. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • Régence frame

    Régence frame (detail), designed by Gilles-Marie Oppenord, possibly carved by Michel Lange, 1723, carved and gilded oak. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • Portrait of Charles de Saint-Albin

    Portrait of Charles de Saint-Albin, Archbishop of Cambrai, 1723, Hyacinthe Rigaud, oil on canvas, in a Régence frame, designed by Gilles-Marie Oppenord, possibly carved by Michel Lange, 1723, carved and gilded oak. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • Louis XV frame

    Louis XV frame (detail), about 1770, Jean Chérin, carved and gilded oak. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • Before the Ball

    Before the Ball, 1735, Jean-François de Troy, oil on canvas, in a Louis XV frame, carved and gilded oak. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • Louis XVI frame

    Louis XVI frame (detail), carved and gilded oak. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • Mars and Venus

    Mars and Venus, an Allegory of Peace, 1770, Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée, oil on canvas, in a Louis XVI frame, carved and gilded oak. The J. Paul Getty Museum

Louis Style: French Frames, 1610-1792

September 15, 2015–January 3, 2016, Getty Center

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What makes a French frame French? Drawn from the Museum's substantial collection, this exhibition presents a survey of the exquisite carved and gilded picture frames from five periods—Louis XIII (1630–1643), Louis XIV (1643–1715), Régence (1715–1723), Louis XV (1723–1774), and Louis XVI (1774–1792). Tracing their development from restrained to elaborate, dynamic forms to classically inspired style, the array presents a splendid compendium of French design, ornament, craftsmanship, and construction and gilding techniques. This exhibition, along with other displays at the Getty, commemorates the 300th anniversary of the death of Louis XIV, France's magnificent Sun King.

Related Events

A variety of special programs complement the exhibition. All events are free, unless otherwise noted. Seating reservations are required. For reservations and information, please call (310) 440-7300 or see information on planning a visit.

TALK
Happy Marriages: Paintings and their Frames in Curatorial and Conservation Practice

Curator Davide Gasparotto and conservator Gene Karraker, the J. Paul Getty Museum, address the role that frames play in presenting paintings in a museum. They discuss the use of centuries-old techniques to restore frames, how they select frames, and the aesthetic considerations involved in re-framing works in the collection.
Saturday, September 19, 3:00 p.m.
Getty Center: Museum Lecture Hall

TOURS
Curator and Conservator Gallery Tour

Paintings curator Davide Gasparotto and conservator Gene Karraker lead a gallery tour of the exhibition. Meet under the stairs in the Entrance Hall.
Wednesday, September 16, 10:30 a.m.
Getty Center: Museum galleries

Curator and Conservator Gallery Tour

Paintings curator Anne Woollett and conservator Gene Karraker lead a gallery tour of the exhibition. Meet under the stairs in the Entrance Hall.
Wednesday, October 28, 10:30 a.m.
Getty Center: Museum galleries

PUBLICATIONS

Publications are available in the Getty Museum Store, by calling (310) 440-7333, or online.

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