ITALIE ÉPOQUE RENAISSANCE

ITALIE ÉPOQUE RENAISSANCE
PALAIS CABINET Florence, 16th century
Walnut
H. 219 cm, W. 181 cm, D. 70 cm
Beautiful state of preservation
At the top, two carved leaves of perspective architecture open the cabinet framed by three fluted pilasters with Ionic capitals. Each leaf represents two semi-circular arcades, the cornice and base of which reveal the central vanishing point. Similarly, the lines of the pavement provide the craftsman with the opportunity to accentuate this effect of depth. The belt is elegantly worked by mouldings, the central one of which has a softening effect. From the inside of the upper body is accessible a secret compartment that opens by means of two hinges. It occupies the entire belt. The lower body has two leaves identical to those of the upper body framed by three fluted Doric pilasters. The base of the cabinet opens with two large drawers. The sides also have panels worked in bas-reliefs showing the same architectural view in perspective. This palace cabinet is topped by an overhanging cornice resting on three brackets on the front and two on each side.
Placed in the continuity of the pilasters, the consoles are decorated on the surface with a motif of open leaf.
In the 15th century, the major interest in architecture on the one hand and in perspective studies on the other hand influenced the taste of the sponsors. The publications in the middle of the 15th century of the research carried out by the great theorists Leon Battista
Alberti or Filippo Brunelleschi had a major influence on the arts. This appears in the field of painting where many buildings are often inserted whatever the subject and sometimes become themselves the main subject. It also appears in the furniture with the realization of credenzas, cabinets or cupboards nourished by an architectural vocabulary to the point of evoking real palatial facades.
This powerful cabinet with its sober and sophisticated panels is the work of a true artist-architect. In the decorative arts, these trompe-l'oeil subjects were mostly made in marquetry.
The design of a perspective architectural view, carved from a single solid wood plank, was much more difficult to achieve and required a great mastery of technique and material. Automatically translated by DeepL. To see the original version, click here.