Drie hoeken en een fragment van de ornamentele lijst om een jachtstuk 1738 - 1749

This print was made by Gabriel Huquier in the 18th century. It depicts designs for ornamental frames, likely intended to surround paintings of hunting scenes – chasse, as they were known in French. The image shows a corner and straight sections, each densely packed with naturalistic ornament. We see foliage, shells, and game trophies: nets, horns, dead animals. All of this would have been carved in wood, perhaps gilded to a bright sheen. A frame like this was not just a border, but an active enhancement of the picture, intensifying the experience for the viewer. This kind of elaborate work represents a tremendous investment of labor and skill. It speaks to the patron’s wealth and taste, and the craftsman’s virtuosity. When we consider the making of a thing like this, we are reminded that fine art always relies on the so-called decorative arts. A print like this was crucial, disseminating design ideas and stimulating further production.