An Overview of the History of Matting

Circa 1940  Robert Sargent Austin   Gothic Lady  Etching,  printed in England The twentieth century brought unwelcome changes for artists.  They were forced to deal with a world apparently indifferent to their condition and welfare, to reinterpret  the old patterns of collector, patron and dealer,  and to come to terms with society economically as well as esthetically.  Austin, born in 1895,  tried to ignore the stress and turmoil ( First World War 1914-1918 & Second World War 1939 -1945 )  by holding fast to traditional, medieval modes of expression and subject matter. The mat is an adaptation of sixteenth century French and Italian decorated backing papers ( see PFM, August 1993 ).  The frame is a simplified adaptation of a Northern Gothic frame (see #2, Albrecht Durer).

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