Tom Roberts
1883

• Ramon CASAS

In late 2012 a suggestion was put forward to reframe this picture in a reproduction frame based on photographic evidence of the work on display in the Tom Robert’s Memorial Exhibition held at the Fine Art Society's Gallery, 100 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, 21st June to 9th July 1932. In the photograph the painting is framed in a thin, flat dark frame. Although the photograph depicts the painting 49 years after its execution by the Catalan Spanish artist Ramon Casas it remains, to date, the earliest known piece of documentary evidence depicting the painting on public display.
In light of the fact that the painting appears to have been in the possession of Tom Roberts at the time of his death it is reasonable to surmise that the painting was kept by Roberts unframed or was framed by Roberts in makeshift fashion.
When the painting entered the NGV collection in December 2005 it was framed by a gold painted Cassetta style frame which was thought to be the choice of a previous owner and picture framer. (above)
Production of the new frame commenced in late 2012 adapting surplus English Oak timber moulding from a project to build simple frames to house a number of small sketch paintings by George Frederick Folingsby.
The frame was stained and distressed and fitted to the painting in April 2013.(top)

oak timber, stained