Chapter 4 - Revolving Around Apollo: Spheres, Seductions, and Slaying Monsters

Figure 4.1

Unknown, Mythological Scenes: Apollo and Daphne and the Fall of Phaethon, c. 1570, 65x176x58 cm, Rome, London: The Victoria and Albert Museum. Accession number: 4416-1857

The cassone is divided into four narrative scenes centering myths related to Apollo. From left to right: Apollo and Daphne; Cupid shooting his golden arrow on Apollo; Daphne's metamorphosis into a tree; and the last panel relates to the second cassone of the pair, presenting the fall of Phaethon from the sun chariot. I believe that this fourth panel of this cassone was probably intended to the second cassone (fig. 4.2) while the fourth panel of the latter cassone was intended to this chest.

According to the V&A, the two chests (figs. 4.1 and 4.2) might have been commissioned for the marriage of Paolo Lancellotti and Giulia Delfini in 1570.

Additional Information:

Location: London: The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Bibliography: Schottmüller, Frida. Furniture and Interior Decoration of the Italian Renaissance. New York: Brentano’s, 1921, 62, fig. 138.
Provenance: Bought for £110 in Paris (No further information given in the early register).

Figure 4.2

Unknown, Mythological Scenes: Apollo and Python and the Phaethon Myth, c. 1570, 65 x 176 x 58 cm, Rome, London: The Victoria and Albert Museum. Accession number 4417-1857

This chest is likely to have been commissioned as a pair with fig. 4.1. The intricate panels on this chest depict various mythological scenes in a sequential order. From left to right, we witness Apollo triumphing over the monstrous Python. The next panels portray the myth of Phaethon, with the first panel showing Phaethon as an infant while his mother Clymene prays to the sun. The subsequent panel features Phaethon as a young man, offering prayers to Apollo. Lastly, we encounter a reclining river god, which the V&A identifies as Eridanus, the river into which Phaethon had fallen. However, I propose that this is instead Peneus, the father of Daphne, and that the fourth panel of this cassone and the fourth panel of the previous cassone were mistakenly interchanged.

Additional Information:

Location: London: The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Provenance: Bought for £110 in Paris (No further information given in the early register).

Figure 4.3

Unknown, Mythological Scenes: Apollo and Daphne, c. 1565, 64.77 x 166.37 x 54.61 cm, Kansas City: The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Object number: 33-459

This chest bears a resemblance to the previous cassoni (figs. 4.1 and 4.2), indicating the possibility of being produced in the same workshop or following a widely circulated 'stock-design' model utilized by different workshops. The presence of this cassone further supports my previous assertion that the fourth panel in the previous chest features Peneus rather than Eridanus.

Within this chest, the first panel depicts the poignant meeting between Apollo and Daphne, while the second panel portrays Cupid aiming a golden arrow at Apollo. The third panel captures the transformative moment of Daphne's metamorphosis into a laurel tree. Lastly, the fourth panel presents the reclining figure of the river god.

*Low Resolution Image*

Additional Information:

Location: Kansas City: The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.
Catalogue Entry: Ward, Roger and Patricia J. Fidler, eds. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: A Handbook of the Collection. New York: Hudson Hills Press, in association with Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 1993, 155 (repro.).
Provenance:
- With Frank Partridge and Sons, Ltd., New York and London, by December 18, 1931.
- Purchased from Frank Partridge by French and Company, New York, stock no. 38611, December 18, 1931-January 30, 1933.
- Purchased from French and Company by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1933.

Figure 4.4

Unknown, Mythological Scenes: Apollo and Daphne and the Phaethon Myth, c. 1600, 64.77 x 175.26 x 57.15 cm, Minneapolis, Minnesota: The Minneapolis Institute of Art. Accession number 59.8

Once again, this cassone bears a striking resemblance to the three previous chests, further bolstering the hypothesis that a stock-design model was in circulation among a particular workshop or multiple workshops.

In this chest, the panels from left to right feature meeting of Apollo and Daphne; The second panel features Clymene and Phaethon, engaged in prayer to the sun. The third panel showcases Apollo and Phaethon, depicting a pivotal moment in their mythological tale. Lastly, the fourth panel appropriately concludes the myth, depicting Phaethon's ill-fated descent as he falls from the sun chariot.

Additional Information:

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota: The Minneapolis Institute of Art. On view in Gallery 330.
Provenance: Gift of the F. W. Clifford family.

Figure 4.15

Unknown, Left: Apollo and Daphne; Right: Orpheus Playing to Wild Animals, third quarter of the 16th century, with 19th century alterations, carved cassoni in walnut, 72.4 x 168.9 x 59.1 cm, New York: The Frick Collection. Accession number: 1916.5.80

This chest was undoubtedly commissioned as a pair, intended to be displayed alongside cassone fig. 1.2. Fig. 1.2 explores the myth of Apollo and Marsyas, while this chest seamlessly continues the thematic focus on Apollo. On the left panel, we witness Apollo's relentless pursuit of Daphne. The right panel presents a captivating scene of Orpheus, known as either Apollo's bard or his son, enchanting and harmonizing with wild animals through his music.

When viewed collectively, these two cassoni beautifully interweave themes of music and harmony, as well as love and loss.

Additional Information:

Location: New York: The Frick Collection.
Catalogue Entries:
- Dubon, David.“Italian & French Renaissance.” In Furniture in the Frick Collection: An Illustrated Catalogue, edited by Joseph Focarino. New York and Princeton: Frick Museum and Princeton University Press, 1992.
- Vignon, Charlotte. The Frick Collection Decorative Arts Handbook. New York: The Frick Collection and Scala, 2015.

Figure 4.16

Unknown, Left: Apollo and Daphne; Right: Orpheus Playing to Wild Animals, 1550-1600, carved cassoni in walnut and gilding, 72.4 x 168.3 x 63.5 cm, Louisville, KY: The Speed Art Museum

This chest exhibits a notable similarity to the previous chest (fig. 4.15) and reinforces the assumption that it was intended as a companion piece, following a stock-design model. The chest was probably commissioned as the mate of cassone fig. 1.3. This chest features the same scenes that are portrayed on the previous chest - Apollo's pursuit of Daphne on the left, and Orpheus singing and playing to wild animals on the right.

*Low Resolution Image*

Additional Information:

Location: Louisville, Kentucky: The Speed Art Museum.
Bibliography:
Dubon, David.“Italian & French Renaissance.” In Furniture in the Frick Collection: An Illustrated Catalogue, edited by Joseph Focarino. New York and Princeton: Frick Museum and Princeton University Press, 1992.
Comstock, Helen."The Satterwhite Collection of Gothic and Renaissance Art." The connoisseur 128, no. 523 (November 1951): 132-136; illustrated page 135.
Provenance: Probably French & Company, New York (possible inventory number 25983/2); Dr. Preston Pop Satterwhite, Great Neck (Long Island), New York, and Palm Beach; Bequested to the Speed Art Museum, 1949.