Frame of The Madness of Joanna of Castile

Sanding was a decorative technique widely used in 19th century Spanish framing. Here, it entirely covers the wide frieze. This striking device, like the prominent ribbon-and-stick pattern, enhances the expressive interplay of light and shadow. This particular frame, made for the painting when it was submitted to the National Exhibition of 1866, was copied five years later, probably by the same craftsman, for Rosales’ Death of Lucretia (P004613).