Cornice pictures

Refers to distinctive painted wall panels, generally those from 15th- and 16th-century Italy. They were typically installed in a frieze above the wooden cornice molding, forming a separate register between the wooden paneling and the bare wall just below the ceiling. Today, they have often been removed from their original location, and are recognized by their long, narrow proportions. They are distinguished from "spalliere (paintings)," which were installed lower on the wall, just above chests or benches. Since the original context of the setting is lost once the panel has been removed from the wall, the term "spalliere" may be applied to both.