Frames and supports in 15th and 16th-century Southern Netherlandish painting

CATALOGUE 376 8. Dirk Bouts (entourage), The Supper at Simon’s House , late 15th century Inv. no. O.SJ0188.I Bibliography: Hollanders-Favart et al. 1975a, 440; Lobelle and Van Cleven 1976, 583, S.79. Panel: two boards, butt-joined with dowels. One dowel is visible at the back in the panel that has been thinned and cradled. The panel is rebated at the back to form a tongue that is slotted into the groove of the frame. Frame : top: slotted dovetail joint, mitred at front; bottom: through mortise and tenon, with tenon on the stiles and tenon shoulder angled to the inclined sill. The dovetail joints suggest that the frame originated in Brussels. Each joint is strengthened with two pegs. The reverse of the frame has been carefully smoothed. The lower right hand joint has been restored. Notches for hinges tell us that the painting originally had wings. The black and gold polychromy has been redone.