Monumental Renaissance bench, Italy, ca. 1550... Lot n° 83

Monumental Renaissance bench, Italy, ca. 1550. In walnut wood. Provenance: Private collection. Measures: 265 x 285 x 82 cm. Exceptional Italian Renaissance bench-archon. It consists of a structure of architectural inspiration and a wide iconographic program where classical motifs inspired by Greek and Roman Antiquity are intermingled, although freely interpreted, and heraldic, in a hybridization typical of Renaissance art. Entirely made of walnut wood, it presents magnificent carving in each of its parts: on a modest base there is a frieze worked in high relief with a central heraldic shield around which are arranged symmetrically cartouches representing galloping Amazons, guarded by masks between phylacteries. Winged torsos inspired by Nikés or goddesses of Victory decorate the corners, protruding as prow masks. Two lions carved in rounded bulk preside over the flanks of the bench and serve as bases for the columns of Corinthian order and partially fluted shaft. A triple semicircular arch with finely carved scallop-shaped tympana respectively shelter three soffits in which high and low relief are combined, in which heraldic motifs dominate exalted by triumphal iconography of Greco-Roman inspiration: fruit garlands, laurels, trophies, acanthus, mythical creatures derived from the tritons, putti of harmonious proportions... Two stipes with anthropomorphic torso, female and male respectively, support corbels carved with scrolls and acanthus. Eagles and lion masks, heraldic motifs par excellence, are proffered on the architrave. The seat cover opens, also functioning as a chest. The furniture of the Italian Renaissance enjoyed a development comparable to the rest of its artistic manifestations. Craftsmen spent a minimum of ten years as apprentices before being considered sufficiently qualified to become masters. Although late Gothic style furniture predominates in central and northern Europe almost until the first half of the 16th century, the Renaissance style, born in Italy, soon spread throughout the European courts. It completely changed the concept of decoration and affirmed the idea of the house as a "residence" and furniture became a fundamental element of the stately home. A majestic type of furniture took shape, of elegant classical proportions and built with refined wisdom. In the decorative theme, architectural elements such as columns, plinths, pilasters, balustrades, mirrors, moldings, carved motifs and bas-reliefs began to be used. The wood most used by the craftsmen of the XV and XVI centuries for the construction of quality furniture is walnut.