Description
This beautiful chest, finely carved in low relief, is, in its proportions, structure, and composition, entirely characteristic of the French First Renaissance.
Its ornamentation, skillfully carved in solid wood and covering the entire front panel, is framed by two richly decorated pilasters adorned with scrollwork, cartouches, sculpted putti heads, and topped with capitals. Above, the horizontal lintel, centered with a lock, is also embellished with leafy scrolls.
The chest displays in its decoration the full ornamental richness of early Ultramontane influences, incorporating, among other motifs, arabesques and cornucopias.
The central theme depicted is an ode to life, celebration, and Bacchus.
At the heart of a flowered medallion, we find a joyful and unclothed young Bacchus, seated cross-legged on a barrel, holding a cup in one hand.
Above, a demon rendered in a still-medieval manner—with a bell around its neck and wide, startled eyes—is seen refilling Bacchus’s empty cup.
On either side, a pair of facing herm figures blow into oliphants, their tails curling into arabesques. The delicate foliage, unfurling in volutes and continuing into an open pistil, ends in a cornucopia-like form that morphs into a male mask with a long beard and piercing gaze—an originality that reflects the inventiveness of Renaissance workshops.
Beyond this decorative scene, a young man riding the herm on the left, in a forward motion, holds a jug of wine and a cup in his hands. He appears to be pursuing a young woman dressed in a flowing gown on the right; she gestures the way ahead, yet turns her head back to look at him.
The chest’s lid, constructed with a rare double-pitched design, adds to its uniqueness. The sides, composed of multiple molded panels and lacking lateral handles, clearly indicate that this is a ceremonial or display chest, not intended for regular transport.
The sculptor’s remarkable skill is evident both in the harmonious balance of the overall composition and in the exceptional quality of the carving itself.