Bar Leshem
Chapter 2 - The Reclining Venus: A Warning Against Lust or a Nuptial Allegory?
Figure 2.1
School of Jacopo Sansovino, Cassone with the Figure of Venus, second half of the sixteenth century, Venice, partly gilded walnut, Jerusalem: the Israel Museum. Accession number: B70.0938
In an elliptic frame at the center of the front panel rests the reclining nude figure, in a natural scenery. She is flanked by two hybrid figures, probably harpies. The outer side of the front panel features two grotesque masks - one on each side.
The decorative scheme was identified by the Israel Museum in Jerusalem as following the design of the Sansovino frames, that was prominent in Venice in the sixteenth century. The chest rests on lions (instead of lion feet) with gilded manes.
The chest was restored in 2001-2002.
Additional Information:
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Location: Jerusalem: The Israel Museum.
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Provenance: Gifted to the Israel Museum by Mr. Tulio Silva from Milan in 1970.
Figure 2.2
Unknown, Cassone with an Allegorical Representation of a River / The Reclining Venus, sixteenth century, Northern Italy, iron bands; walnut wood, 53x172x54 cm., Budapest: Museum of Applied Arts. Accession number: 5354
Similar to fig. 2.1, the chest features a reclining nude. While the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts identifies the figure as a river allegory, I believe it is Venus.
The decorative scheme of the chest is similar, though less elaborate than fig. 2.2. The legs are a nineteenth-century addition.
Additional Information:
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Location: The Budapest Museum of Applied Arts.
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Catalogue Entries:
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Pataki Judit: Az idő sodrában. Az Iparművészeti Múzeum gyűjteményeinek története. Iparművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 2006. - Nr. 41.
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Péter Márta: Reneszánsz és manierizmus. Az európai iparművészet korszakai. Iparművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 1988. - Nr. 269.
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Radocsay Dénes, Farkas Zsuzsanna: Az európai iparművészet remekei. Száz éves az Iparművészeti Múzeum. Iparművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 1972. - Nr. 129.
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Csányi Károly: Az Országos Magyar Iparművészeti Múzeum gyűjteményei - az iparművészet rövid történetével. Iparművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 1926. - Nr. 59.
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Elefánt Olga: Iparművészeti Múzeumunk bútorgyűjteménye. Magyar Iparművészet, 18. (1915). 1915.
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Figure 2.3
Unknown, Cassone with Venus and Cupid, 1550-1560, Raccolta Principe Vittorio Massimo.
Similar to figs. 2.1 and 2.2, this chest present the reclining nude Venus, the two harpies and the two grotesque masks, but with a more decorated overall scheme. Venus herself is made differently in manner of style, and she is accompanied by Cupid, who rests and her hip.
*Scanned Image*
Additional Information:
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Location: Raccolta Principe Vittorio Massimo.
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Bibliography: Lizzani, Goffredo. Il Mobile Romano. Görlich Editore S.p.A, 1970.
Figure 2.4
Unknown, Cassone with Two Reclining Figures (Venuses with Mirrors), the 1500s and later, carved and gilded wood, 170.2 x 53.3 x 55.9 cm, Massachusetts: Worcester Art Museum. Object number: 1915.86
This heavily decorated chest features two figurative panels at the chest's front, and a central panel with a cartouche flanked by decorative motifs. In each figurative panel, a reclining nude is featured, each holding an object in from of them. The scenes may be identified as the reclining nude Venus holding a mirror.
Additional Information:
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Location: Worcester Art Museum.
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Provenance: Alfredo Barsanti.
Figure 2.5
Unknown, Cassone with a Reclining Female Figure (Venus), sixteenth century, walnut, 64.8 × 172.7 × 63.5 cm., New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Theodore M. Davis Collection. Accession number: 30.95.88
At the center of the front panel of the chest, a reclining female figure is portrayed, shown from her back, holding an almost unnoticeable elliptic object. The figure may be identified as Venus, and the elliptic object as a mirror.
Additional Information:
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Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915.
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Provenance: Theodore M. Davis, New York (until d. 1915; bequeathed to MMA).