Rokokorahmen von Francois de Cuvillies, Brühl um 1740

Rococo frame from wall paneling by Francois de Cuvillies, Brühl circa 1740, orig. Gilding, engraved and set in light green, curved frame profile with fluted sight rail, rising, engraved throat and slightly undercut bead, all richly decorated with acanthus foliage, in the middle of the lower leg plastically carved out, female mask, at the sides acanthus tendrils with berries rise up like a cornucopia, above them winged, plastically carved dragons, in the middle of the upper finish an oval cartouche accompanied by acanthus leaves, volutes and flower festoons, corresponding cartouches also in the upper corners, dimensions: 189 x 141 cm. As the first important creation of the rococo style in Germany and an extraordinary example of the palace architecture of the time, the Augustusburg and Falkenlust palaces served as models for numerous German royal courts for over half a century. The Bavarian court architect Francois de Cuvillies took over the work on Augustusburg Palace in 1728 and replaced the Westphalian architect Johann Conrad Schlaun. Cuvillies was considered a master of ornamentation. Between 1738 and 1756 he published more than fifty books on the interior decoration of rooms and on design elements such as wall panels, ceilings, furniture and wrought-iron decorative objects. Engravings contributed to spread the taste and style of the Rococo throughout Europe. The frame presented here, with its subtle ornamentation of figural and plant elements, is a very rare courtly interior which, due to its provenance, was created under the direct influence of Francois de Cuvillies. Conzen art collection.