Oil paintings are one of the most priced kinds of paintings in the art world today. These are not just attractive, but can pass a strong message to individuals who can see beneath the surface. In other words, it is one of the most common means artists use to express what they feel, what they see, and sometimes, who they are.
To save myself the heartache, when I got my first oil painting, I searched online if oil paintings should be framed under glass, and it turns out that you don’t need to frame an oil painting under glass if the artist used a canvas, board, or panel for its framework. But, this only applies to paintings that have undergone varnishing, months after the artist initially painted them.
Should Oil Paintings Be Framed Under Glass? This question is what I will try to answer in this article.
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Framing Oil Paintings Under Glass
In museums or galleries, you might have noticed that several paintings lie beneath glasses allowing you to only see but not touch the works inside. The glass only serves as protection from theft and other forms of vandalism, especially for high-priced works.
Sometimes, museums use conventional glasses, and in others a higher standard of glass to protect artworks from other factors like excess light and reflections: the museum glass. However, if you decide to frame your painting behind glass and not with a floater frame, ensure to include a framing mount. Also called mats, these framing mounts serve decorative purposes.
Aside from this, they create space between the artwork and the glass preventing condensation and allowing air circulation. Mats also prevent the paint from sticking to the glass surface. So, for thicker paints, use thicker matt. Traditional picture frames sometimes come with them.
Preserving your paintings inside the glass is not necessary, but it’s only applicable for paintings on hard surfaces. If your paintings are on paper or something thin, you need glasses for support.
Advantages of Using Glass Frames for Oil Paintings
Glass Serves as a Protective Layer
First, it serves as protection for your oil painting regardless of the material the painting has for a framework.
You get canvas from cotton, which is a completely natural polymer. The result is that it will disintegrate over time because of exposure to air, sunshine, and harsh temperatures, even though it is highly durable and long-lasting in the short term.
For thinner materials, the case is more delicate as these materials are prone to wearing away easily with time. Using glass, you can prevent oxidation as a source of degeneration for your painting.
Another issue to consider is the possibility of physical damage to the painting. Glass for frames is not as brittle as many people believe, and it may protect your oil paintings from minor shocks while driving. It also assists in keeping your paintings in good condition by protecting them from external factors
, road bumps, and other potential dangers. You can sense humidity and temperature changes through the glass; however, with an airtight seal on the frame, this shouldn’t pose a problem.
Glass Makes Oil Paintings More Presentable
In addition to being rough and scratchy, the way the canvas is fastened to the internal part of the wooden frame can be a hassle. Most times, canvas margins have an overlap of the canvas, with too many staples to hold it in place, which results in a sloppy appearance.
Oil paintings are supposed to add beauty to the space, not make it look worse with a careless design. Thus, it’s vital for artists to maintain order in their work. This can be tough, especially when the margins of a canvas have several colors that could clash with a room design, and a custom frame could bring them all together.
When you frame these works, it becomes difficult to identify these flaws as the edges are hidden within the frame. Aside from this, glass gives it a more classy feel and adds a different touch to your work area.
Glass Preserves the Value of Oil Paintings
While it is true that the value of an artwork improves with time, it’s also true that an oil painting can age and seem ragged or tattered. While some may consider it vintage, others might think it looks tattered. Both concepts differ, but it also depends on the perspective of a buyer or an admirer.
The luster of a painting will fade with time if it is not properly cared for; but if it’s enclosed, the canvas will age naturally. This is a result of the lack of involvement of other influences. If you’re in the business of preserving and increasing the value of oil paintings that you purchase, glass might be the best preservation technique for you.
Disadvantages of Using Glass Frames for Oil Paintings
A Breakage in the Glass Could Ruin the Painting
Crystal-clear glass is a long-lasting, recyclable substance that does not dissolve the way that most materials do. Glass has a lot of positive sides unless it shatters.
Due to its resistance to the elements and temperature fluctuations, it cannot survive harsh impacts. In other words, glass shatters when it hits the ground or when kept carelessly.
While it is possible to purchase shatter-resistant glass for your frames, it will be expensive and most times can only be custom-made. Glass frames that fall off the wall could shatter and rip the canvas within it or destroy the paint surface.
Remember that the purpose of framing oil paintings is to reduce the risk of damage, not to enhance it. Therefore, before placing your priceless oil painting inside a glass frame, be certain that you install the frame properly.
It Increases the Production of Heat
The heat generated by sunlight traveling through glass can have dire consequences on your oil painting. For starters, a scorching sun can cause the canvas and the oil to discolor. Consequently, your image’s appearance alters itself and its aesthetic appeal will diminish in a short period.
Furthermore, when the stretched canvas is open to direct sunlight, it can suffer from natural degradation. This means, the more sunshine the canvas receives, the worse your oil painting will turn out to be.
Not All Glass Matches the Essence of the Art
Different paintings have different characters and essences to them; therefore, there are frames that are peculiar to them. There are only limited options for glass frames and many of them are similar in appearance or finishing. Sometimes, this might not be in accordance with the ambiance the painting creates.
You can easily place the frame in the picture to improve the aesthetic appeal of the piece, but this could be challenging. In cases like this, it is best to opt for custom-made frames which are usually expensive.
Other Ways to Frame Your Paintings
If your oil paint is on canvas, panel, or a board, there are other options to consider for framing your paintings.
You can decide to hang your original paints without using a frame. These are usually attractive, especially when the painting continues along the edge of the canvas creating a three-dimensional illusion.
Floater frames are the best option to maintain this illusion while protecting the canvas. These frames come in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs that will complement the setting of your room. Many frame moldings are fit for frames with a 3/4-inch depth.
A canvas with a gallery depth must be at least 1-1/2 inches deep. It is difficult to find moldings with a deeper rabbet because they are expensive and limited.
Another effective option is to attach a wooden frame to the surface of your painting. To do this, first, find the right wooden frame for your painting. Place the frame on a clean surface and carefully insert your oil painting within.
Double-check to make sure that your painting fits exactly into the frame a second time if necessary. Use frame clips to hold the canvas in place. Check to see that you have securely fastened the picture to the frame before hanging it.
How to Care for Framed Paintings
When you decide to use other materials to frame your oil paintings, you must ensure you keep them under the right conditions as they are more exposed. The primary way of preserving oil paints is to prevent constant touching of the paint surface.
Make sure that no one touches a painting with their fingers or any other utensils to keep it in good condition for future generations. If you’re hosting a dinner party or large event, you should consider putting up a small sign next to the painting. The sign should advise guests to look but not touch it.
Furthermore, you can use a clear plastic “shell” to cover the picture frame temporarily to keep people from touching it. If the gathering is going to be too crowded, consider taking the photo down and storing it somewhere secure until the event.
Dust and particles can attach to the surface of a painting, dulling the colors and putting the artwork at risk. Dusting carefully keeps dust from clinging to the paint’s surface. A delicate artist’s brush is the best instrument for this task. Look for a brush with soft and gentle bristles that are around two or three inches wide and two or three inches long.
Before you dust the artwork, take a close look at it for chips or cracks in the painting. If there are any cracks in the paint, don’t proceed with this method as it will only worsen the cracks. If the painting surface is in good condition, dust the surface gently. While dusting, avoid using water sprays or cleaners.
Where Do You Hang Your Oil Paintings?
The environment in which you display a painting can aid in the preservation of the artwork. Oil paints are susceptible to temperature changes. Warm temperatures weaken the surface of a painting, making it prone to damage by human contact, dust, and debris settling in the paint.
Avoid heat vents, fireplaces, and other spots that receive a lot of direct sunlight or heat while hanging paintings.
Before deciding on the best spot to hang your paintings, you should consider the general outlook of your living environment. If you’re planning on hanging artwork in your office, you should consider the message of the painting and how it relates to your environment.
Irrespective of where you hang your paintings, dust them once in a while to keep them in good condition.
Oil paintings add a level of beauty and life to your house that printed artwork cannot match. If you decide to protect your painting with glass or other frame types, the proper maintenance methods and display location can preserve your work of art.
Sources
- Oil painting – Wikipedia
- Oil Painting Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
- Unknown | Cassetta frame | Spanish