Paul Levi (picture framer) facts for kids

Paul Levi (born August 22, 1919 – died August 5, 2008) was a very skilled picture framer from Germany. He became famous for his amazing work in the world of art.

A Master of Picture Frames

Paul Levi played a super important role in changing how picture frames were made after World War II. He created many different types of frames that looked like old, historic styles. These frames were used by big art collections and private owners across Europe and North America.

Paul's Early Life and Challenges

Paul was born in Leipzig, Germany, on August 22, 1919. He was the only son of a mathematician named Friedrich Levi. In 1935, his father, who was from a Jewish family, was stopped from teaching in Germany. Because of this, his father moved to India. Paul was sent to a school in England called Blundell's School in Devon. There, he became very interested in carving and building things. He even won a prize from the BBC for his sculptures!

Because he was a German citizen, Paul was held on the Isle of Man in 1940 after Germany invaded the Netherlands. While he was there, he became friends with other smart people, like Johannes Wilde (who later became a director at an art institute), Max Perutz (a scientist who won a Nobel Prize for Chemistry), and the mathematician Sir Hermann Bondi.

Later, Paul was sent to Canada before coming back to England. He then worked as a farm helper in East Anglia.

Discovering the Secrets of Old Frames

After the war, Paul met an artist and frame-maker named F.A. Pollak. Paul started collecting old, antique frames. He soon realized something amazing: 16th-century Dutch frames could be dated exactly! He figured this out by looking at the shapes of their edges and comparing them to old paintings that still had their original frames with dates on them. This smart way of looking at frames became the foundation for Paul's whole career. In 1950, he opened his own workshop.

Paul's detailed and intellectual way of working was quite unique at the time. Many art museums and galleries were starting to prefer modern art, sometimes even removing frames from old paintings to display them on plain white walls. However, some important art collectors, like Antoine Seilern and Sir Brinsley Ford, still valued traditional art and frames. They often hired Paul for his special skills. It wasn't until the late 1970s that more public art collections started to follow their example.

Recreating Historic Frames

Paul was the first person to rebuild a special machine needed to make the unique black ripple frames. These frames were perfect for 17th-century Dutch paintings.

One of Paul's biggest achievements happened after he retired. Working with William Adair, he helped identify 11 paintings that were needed to put back together a large altarpiece by Filippo Mazzola. This altarpiece was originally in a church in Italy. Paul had bought the frame for this altarpiece in 1967. His important role and his generous donation of the frame were recognized in 2003 when he was given the special title of Cavaliere (a knight-like honor) in Italy.

Paul married Paula Fuchs in 1951. They had three sons and two daughters. Paul Levi passed away in Reading.