This Carlo Maratta sample has been given a couple of coats of gesso, this fills in the finer detail of the ornament a little, but personally I think this slight rounding and blending in of the ornament gives a more carved or hand crafted appearance. I think some compo ornamented frames both new repro and antique, have ornament which can look a little bit mass produced, with unbalanced designs which just look excessive. On really good carved frames the gesso would be recut around the ornament, and the detail sharpened up with metal tools to give real crisp definition to the carving.
