POSSIBLY BY OR AFTER GERARD VAN OPSTAL (1594/97-1668), FRANCO-FLEMISH, LATE 17th / EARLY 18TH CENTURY AND THE DRAWING, ITALIAN, 17TH CENTURY

This frame, delightfully chaotic and full of movement, is incredibly close to the work of the Flemish artist Gérard van Opstal.  Van Opstal, who worked most of his life in Paris, was known for similar, mostly lower-relief, scenes of putti in various charming and humorous pursuits. There are many reliefs of putti similar to the present frame, as well as van Opstal’s engravings, but nothing appears to match exactly. The four groups of putti have been potentially identified as representing  the four virtues of Justice, Temperance, Fortitude and Prudence. However, due to their scant attributes, it is hard to be certain.