Framing Rembrandt and his Circle

Drawings from the Frits Lugt Collection and their antique frames

Antique frames in the Frits Lugt Collection
For several centuries now collectors have preserved their drawings and prints in albums or portfolios, shielded from the light. Frits Lugt (1884–1970), creator of the Fondation Custodia, adopted this principle for most of his works on paper. However, in his Dutch residence some of them were displayed in antique frames, which he also collected with a lively interest. He believed that authentic frames were essential for fully appreciating art works. In 1957 Frits Lugt presented at the Institut Néerlandais (Dutch Institute) in Paris, just recently opened, his first exhibition of drawings by Rembrandt and his school, in antique frames. At the end of his life, in 1970, his collection featured around 900 frames from different periods from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, and different European countries. The frame collection is actually held in three principal groups corresponding to the main drawing schools kept by the Fondation Custodia: Flemish or Dutch, Italian and French. The Italian frames in the Frits Lugt collection are particularly distinguished.

Presentation of the drawings by Rembrandt and his circle in antique frames
The drawings are shown in frames which range from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century from the Netherlands but also France, Italy, Spain or Germany. Nine frames featuring in the exhibition were selected and are represented here with the drawings that accompany them. They give an idea of the great variety of materials and techniques utilised for their execution as well as the different decorations, some simple, others highly elaborate, reflecting the evolution of taste among the amateurs of graphic works. For this occasion the ensemble of frames on exhibit benefitted by conservative and restoration interventions, so that several of them are shown for the first time. This exhibition booklet is introduced by a short glossary presenting materials which can be observed on the selected examples.

Rembrandt, The grain mill “De Bok” on the bulwark “Het Blauwhoofd”
pen and brown ink, brown wash. - 116 x 198 mm
Paris, Frits Lugt Collection, Fondation Custodia