Dubrovacki muzeji - Kulturno povijesni muzej

Cabinet

Luca Giordano workshop
Naples
Late 17th c.
Ebony, ebonized wood, tortoise-shell, tempera on glass, carvings, gilding, gold-plated brass
118 cm x 181 cm x 44.5 cm (cabinet)
97.5 cm x 191 cm x 47 cm (pedestal)

The cabinet body has the shape of a recumbent square and is positioned on a corresponding pedestal. Around the middle aedicule, the front side is divided into 15 painted fields, 6 of which represent drawer fronts. The fields are encircled by profiled ebony laths. The central aedicule motif with the door hiding a system of secret drawers is vaulted with a fragmented gable and flanked by twisted columns. Under the door is a visually concealed long drawer which is incorporated into the architectural elements. Above is a painted field arranged in a lunette. The front panels are arranged in such a way that the central indented section is juxtaposed to the most prominent part with side columns supporting the gable, the stepped base and the pronounced stepped garland at the top of the closet. The sides also stand out against the drawer fronts. The interior consists of a system of six secret drawers visually divided into 10 painted fields arranged around a central larger drawer. The compositions at the front (tempera on glass) depict mythological scenes and gods as well as landscapes: fields, antique ruins on the rocks by the sea enlivened by human figures captured in conversation, or rowing and fishing. The wooden gold-plated pedestal is designed in such a way that the structural part of the legs is hidden behind a "perforated curtain" featuring rich symmetrical decorations "woven" out of carved plant motifs, with only lion's paws exposed to view. The luxuriant plant decorations of the "curtain" are arranged in three inconspicuous horizontal festoons. The bottom festoon is made up of acanthus leaves curved in C-shapes forming two juxtaposed S-curves between which the motif of flower bouquets appears. The middle festoon consists of two garlands which meet in the middle. The C-shaped curves of acanthus leaves combine to form a vegetable wreath with a mascaron in the middle and a putto on each side pictured in motion. The sides are designed in the same manner, but the festoons are more clearly defined. The rear side features a simple, unidimensional design.