How do I date an antique frame?

Dating relies on timber types, joining methods, and decorative styles like Regency or Rococo Revival. Secondary indicators include the composition of the gesso and backing boards. Changes in hardware and corner construction also help distinguish a period frame from a later replacement.

Are silhouettes considered portraits?

Silhouettes are direct ancestors of photographic portraits, capturing profiles through cut paper or ink. They formed a major part of domestic portraiture in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Artists signed these works or worked from dedicated galleries like the Hubard Gallery in London.

What is the difference between oil and pastel?

Oil paintings utilise pigments bound in drying oils on canvas, offering durability and rich texture. Pastels use compressed pigment sticks on paper and require glazing to prevent dusting. Oils are generally less fragile to atmospheric changes than works executed in pastel.

How should I hang portrait pictures?

Portrait pictures require stable wall fixings suited to the weight of wood and gilt frames. Avoid direct sunlight to protect pigments, particularly pastels and watercolours. Maintain moderate room humidity to preserve both the canvas and the wooden frame joints.