The Romney Frame

English, c.1790 carved and gilded ‘Romney frame’; stopped half lapped pine back frame with mitred mouldings; neo-classical ornament of reeded sight moulding bound by ribbons at the mitres, a plain frieze, pearl, ribbed knull and a rope twist back moulding.
(Frame ref: 12517B)

Copyright Arnold Wiggins & Sons

The term ‘Romney frame’ refers to the pattern made by the frame maker William Saunders in the 1780‘s and is named thus because it is most commonly found around the paintings of George Romney (1734-1802). It is less likely that Romney had a hand in designing the frame himself. As well as William Saunders, Thomas Allwood and Henry Eade were also frame makers for Romney.

Whilst some patrons chose their own frame maker, most let the painter arrange the framing for them. For this framing service, Romney received a discount or ‘pay back’ on the business he gave to the framer. Romney offered his clients a limited range of standard neo-classical frames, typical of the day, with two or three rows of ornament that could be varied to some degree.

EXAMPLES OF PAINTINGS FRAMED IN ROMNEY FRAMES

George Romney, Portrait of Mary and Louisa Kent . Cincinnati Art Museum, Ohio

George Romney, Charles Grey, Eton College, UK.
Reproduced by permission of the Provost and Fellows of Eton College

George Romney, Catherine Clements, Neue Pinakothek, Munich