George IV
Enamel portrait of George IV, by Henry Pierce Bone ©
Not content with the frames as they were in the Grand Corridor, his new gallery in Windsor Castle, George IV had over fifty frames for various masterpieces by Canaletto, Zuccarelli and others 'enriched and enhanced' by the framemaker Joseph Crouzet in the 1820s.
By enlarging and building up the frames with new timber and composition ornaments, Crouzet made the frames far more impressive. The changes and alterations were far reaching and had a great impact on the display of the Royal Collection.
There are many styles of this enhancement but they follow the same basic idea; increase the section width and make the frames grander and more ornate usually with large cartouches or George IV's Royal coat-of-arms.
Masters of the Consul Smith picture frames (mid 18th century)
Frame for RCIN 404416, Canaletto, Venice: A Regatta on the Grand Canal
British School, 18th century
Frame for RCIN 404391, Zuccarelli, Landscape with a Temple and Cascade, Figures and Cattle
Masters of the Consul Smith picture frames (mid 18th century)
Frame for RCIN 404342, after Rubens, Christ in the house of Simon
Joseph Crouzet (fl. c.1830)
Frame for RCIN 405562, Studio of Reni, St Sebastian
British School, 18th century
