15929972260001491579776000Standard Recordobject-215706170683046348117068018270001706829652346fitz-onlineadlib-object-215706https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/215706047c4598-692b-3975-af38-e9d12be1b8b014referenceterm-106692adlib-term-106692ed7baa11-5901-3307-81b6-77370e40ebb4woodApplied ArtsCarved and gilded lime wood miror frameM.2-20171accession numberM.2-2017215706priref215706urihttps://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/215706https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/215706referenceagent-149638adlib-agent-1496387376d833-d0a7-3be0-916e-9c892b7a24d8The Fitzwilliam MuseumA gift from the Friends of the Fitzwilliam to mark the museum’s bicentenary in 2016.
This acquisition was made possible through The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum, the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Henry Moore Foundation, the Finnis Scott Foundation and the Old Possum's Practical Trust as well as many other generous individuals, 2017201720172017given169316931693169316971169716971697This elaborate mirror frame is a unique survival from the golden age of English wood carving. It was commissioned by Admiral Edward Russell (1653-1727), the celebrated naval hero. With its shells and marine imagery, it was probably made between 1693 and 1697 to celebrate his appointment as Admiral of the Fleet, and First Lord of the Admiralty. Russell was a generous patron of architecture and the arts. His Cambridgeshire estate, Chippenham Park, was luxuriously furnished and featured intricately carved woodwork throughout. Celia Fiennes, who visited in 1698, noted the ‘finest carved wood in fruitages, herbages, gems, beasts, fowls etc, very thin and fine.’
The frame is decorated with symbols representing eternal glory. A personification of Fame with two trumpets flies beneath the mirror, which is flanked by two ancient gods: Mercury (with three money bags) representing trade, commerce and financial gain, and Hercules (with the Apples of the Hesperides), symbolising military strength and triumph. Just as Hercules’ fruit bestowed immortality on those who ate it, this showy frame trumpeted the knowledge, taste and wealth of its patron, and ensured his everlasting fame. Sadly, this was not true for the unknown carvers. They were probably Dutch or French Huguenots (Protestant refugees), based at the naval dockyards, more used to carving elaborate ship prows and interiors.
The current mirror plate is a later addition and is not original to the frame.referenceterm-106447adlib-term-106447c24dda6b-b738-3a7d-bddf-648ede5b5cd417th Century#limereferenceterm-106692adlib-term-106692ed7baa11-5901-3307-81b6-77370e40ebb4woodreferenceterm-27716adlib-term-27716246eefd8-f18b-3c47-8338-d68140b3497egiltreferencemedia-206236adlib-media-206236fb601ea0-d5fc-3b0d-b8e7-ca2b00f988acjpegaa/aa37/M_2_2017_dc2.jpg1heightpixels1025widthpixels74416162862918441imagejpegaa/aa37/mid_M_2_2017_dc2.jpg1heightpixels689widthpixels50016162862918441imagejpegaa/aa37/M_2_2017_dc2.jpg1heightpixels1025widthpixels74416162862918441imagejpegaa/aa37/preview_M_2_2017_dc2.jpg1heightpixels344widthpixels25016162862918441image0media
imagereferencemedia-1761141041portfolio-media-1761141041668d56a2-6841-3746-b260-caed1ddfa045jpegportfolio/F25982D9_7CB9_CFFF_028E_8BBFC531887C/464/251/large_M_2_2017_mas.jpg1heightpixels1410widthpixels102415292864100001imagejpegportfolio/F25982D9_7CB9_CFFF_028E_8BBFC531887C/464/251/mid_M_2_2017_mas.jpg1heightpixels688widthpixels50015292864100001imageM.2-2017_mas.jpg15292864100001imagejpegportfolio/F25982D9_7CB9_CFFF_028E_8BBFC531887C/464/251/preview_M_2_2017_mas.jpg1heightpixels344widthpixels25015292864100001imagepyramid tiffportfolio/F25982D9_7CB9_CFFF_028E_8BBFC531887C/464/251/M_2_2017_mas.ptif1heightpixels1801widthpixels130815292864100001image1media
imagereferenceterm-109711adlib-term-10971173ea7b28-9e7c-3a75-855b-d60a1b7f81fdframereferenceagent-149638adlib-agent-1496387376d833-d0a7-3be0-916e-9c892b7a24d8The Fitzwilliam Museumreferencepublication-200003127adlib-publication-200003127d9865f00-1bb4-35e1-9ed9-d468e9cea12eRecent acquisitions (2012-16) at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridgereferenceterm-109711adlib-term-10971173ea7b28-9e7c-3a75-855b-d60a1b7f81fdframeframereferenceterm-28681adlib-term-28681c1f659e2-1209-31cf-8ff4-154e11452559gildingreferenceterm-98865adlib-term-98865aeb90103-2708-3cdf-abc1-219c45a070e9carvingAdmiral Russell's Frameobject
OBJECT