DIDO BUILDING CARTHAGE Joseph Mallord William Turner RA/1815/Oil on Canvas/155.5x230 cm)

 “DIDO BUILDING CARTHAGE” which has lasted ever since paintings and frames entered the national collection. It consists of an essay summing up the complexity of problems associated with the framing. The frame which he inspired by Virgil’s epic Latin poem, the  ‘Aeneid', is the building of the North African cartage, which Dido founded. The figure in blue on the left is Dido, and on the right is the tomb erected for her dead husband, Sichaeus. In front of Dido is a figure who may be Aeneas: Virgil  tells of their love affair,and of Dido’s suicide following her husband's departure. Relationship of frame to painting and any suggested changes to the current pairing, could be shoved away. It is a triumph of meticulous sorting, measuring ,and assessing the age, condition, and untouched or remade condition of each frame. He reported as having a ‘neoclassical leaf & berry’ frame, which has been ‘made of two cut-down frames by National Gallery and probably has nothing to do with Turner’s own frames at all. He has been untouched and left in peace, only to be disturbed for maintenance at Cheyne walk, London.