Reproduction - commissioned by the NGV
When this pastel portrait entered the collection it was framed in a modern commercial frame. It was felt that the work would benefit from reframing and research commenced with the examination of frames on works by Cumbrae Stewart in the collection of the NGV. This was followed up by a visit to the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, which holds a number of works by the artist and produced a major exhibition about Cumbrae Stewart in 2003. It was found that a number of the artist’s works were housed in rich gold-coloured outer frames with narrow black slips (inner frames). One of these was the NGV’s The Breton oil bottle, painted in 1922, which retained its original frame and surface finish. This frame was replicated for Mrs E.J. Rupert Atkinson.