Highlights
Chest with perspective inlaid work
- Artist
- Baccio Pontelli
- Locality
- Florence
- Date
- c. 1470/1480
- Material
- Walnut, poplar, various European veneers
- Dimensions
- H. 100.5 cm
- Location
- Gallery 24
- Inventory Number
- R 616
- Acquisition
- From Trausnitz Castle in Landshut. Assigned from the Royal Collections of the House of Wittelsbach in 1856
- Epoch
- Renaissance
- Categories
- Furniture
Description
The trompe l'oeil marquetery creates a perfect spatial illusion of musical instruments, board games and coffers behind open cupboard doors. That the illusion is created by using the natural colours of the different types of wood only adds to the amazement. The furniture is part of a tradition that began with the cabinets in the sacristy of the Florentine cathedral around 1440. One of the Gonzaga family?s motto ?VRAI AMOR NO SE CHIANGE? (?True love is constant?) is inlaid on the side of the chest, which indicates that it was made for the court in Mantua. Through dynastic relations with the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach, this piece of furniture came into the possession of Jakobäa von Baden, the wife of Duke Wilhelm IV, as early as the 16th century.
You can also find this object in the online collection
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