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Wedding chest (cassone)
On View In:
Gallery 340
Artist:   Artist Unknown  
Title:   Wedding chest (cassone)  
Date:   15th century  
Medium:   Pine with gilt and painted gesso decoration  
Dimensions:   33 x 70 x 27 in. (83.82 x 177.8 x 68.58 cm)  
Credit Line:   The William Hood Dunwoody Fund  
Location:   Gallery 340  

Cassoni are large wooden chests that became popular during the Italian Renaissance, primarily as bridal presents. Most were made of walnut, and sized to accommodate the clothing, jewelry, carpets, money, and sometimes even weapons included in a bridal dowry. Usually a cassone was kept in the bedroom, where it could also serve as seating. The central decoration of the cassone consists of women representing the four cardinal virtues: Temperance, Justice, Fortitude and Prudence. These are flanked by a battle between a satyr and a part man, part lion on the left and a woman being kidnapped by a centaur on the right. The raised painted and gilded panel also incorporates family heraldic emblems. Cassone production increased throughout the 15th century as entire workshops became devoted to making them and major artists designed their decoration.


Object Description  
  
Inscriptions:    
Classification:   Furniture  
Physical Description:   Cassone or Wedding chest, decorated with sculptural relief depicting the Four Cardinal Virtues flanked by candelabra with armorial bearings; scene of the Rape of Prosperine fighting centaurs and a centaur carrying a woman  
Creation Place:   Europe, Italy, , , Florence and Empoli  
Accession #:   16.747  
Owner:   The Minneapolis Institute of Arts  

 


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