A History of Frames for The Wedding Dance

Abstract

e Wedding Dance has had at least three frames during its lifetime. In this essay, we refer to them as the original frame, the gilded frame, and the current frame. Little is known about Bruegel’s framing practices, but the condition of the perimeter of the painting suggests that the original frame was separate rather than engaged.269 e earliest photograph of e Wedding Dance in a frame (fig. 9.1) is from 1930, the year the DIA acquired the painting. In this photograph, the painting is in a gilded frame, hanging in the museum. e right edge of the painting’s surface is captured in specular light,270 revealing abrasion along the perimeter of the painting (fig. 9.2). is damage is characteristic of rebate rub (or rabbet rub), a term that refers to abrasion of the paint caused by the lip of the frame that holds the painting in place. Since the rebate rub is visible and does not align with the gilded frame’s edge, it was likely caused by an earlier frame with a slightly smaller opening, or sight size. However, we do not know whether this earlier frame was original or a later replacement. In short, it is unknown how many other frames were paired with e Wedding Dance between the original frame and the gilded frame. As seen in the photograph, the gilded frame has a convex profile, or torus, Above FIG 9.1 e Wedding Dance in the gilded frame in 1930, the year the DIA acquired the painting