Night (no. 2)
(1907)

William ORPEN

Medium: oil on canvas
Measurements: 76.5 × 64.0 cm
Inscription: inscribed in grey paint l.r.: ORPEN
Accession Number: 4237-3
Department: International Painting
Credit Line: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1929
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Gallery location: Not on display
Subjects (general): Human Figures Relationships and Interactions
Subjects (specific): couples embracing lovers night passion (emotion) windows
Frame: French, 18th century, recycled

Frame

The frame on Night (no.2) appears to be French, most likely from the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century, recycled to the painting.
The surface is water gilded on a carved timber base with acanthus corners flanked by asymmetrical raffle leaf centres and scallops at the sight edge.
Orpen experimented with a number of framing styles throughout his career including at the turn of the century, reverse pattern seventeenth century Spanish style and black Dutch ripple-moulded frames, moving to white Whistlerian frames by 1911.
Many of Orpen’s frames were produced by the The Chenil Gallery, established by Orpen’s brother-in-law, Jack Knewstub.
Chapman Bros. were also a source of picture frames for Orpen.
Framemaker: Unknown - 18th century
Materials: carved timber, water gilded with gold leaf
Condition: good original condition