Italian work; second half of the 19th century.... Lot n° 28

Italian work; second half of the 19th century. Carved wood and copper. Measurements: 34 x 46 x 28 cm. The chest is raised on a rectangular base that protrudes with respect to the central body. It has a parallelepiped shape, with a lid in the form of a hipped roof. The body defined by straight lines presents a decorative structure in geometric sections where copper elements are arranged presenting figurative scenes. They reflect a theme taken from classical mythology and very repeated throughout the history of art since the Renaissance, that of Diana and Actaeon, narrated by Ovid in his "Metamorphoses". The goddess, devoted to chastity, was bathing in the company of her nymphs in the woods near the Boeotian city of Orcomenus, when the famous hunter Actaeon found her by chance. Fascinated by her beauty, the young man stopped and stared at her nakedness. Diana discovered him and, as punishment, turned him into a deer. She then sent Actaeon's own hounds to kill him, who devoured him. Here we see Actaeon turning to Diana, who sends her dogs, who devour the young man in the poet Ovid's account. This theme is already represented in ancient art, with examples such as the 5th century B.C. krater called "Artemis killing Actaeon" or the Hellenistic marble reliefs on the same myth preserved in the British Museum. Likewise, in 1684 Marc-Antoine Charpentier set to music a lyrical tragedy entitled "Actaeon".