Venetian Renaissance Coffret Panel - The Massacre Of The Innocents After Raphael - 16th Century

Rare and exceptional Italian Renaissance chest panel depicting the Massacre of the Innocents after the famous composition by Raphael (1483-1520), conceived around 1512 and disseminated notably through the engravings of Marcantonio Raimondi (circa 1480-1534).

This remarkable panel is characteristic of 16th-century Venetian production. It comes from a type of luxury chests made in Venetian workshops using a very particular decorative technique, exclusively employed in this region. The decoration is entirely hand-crafted by pyrography, then enhanced with ink, creating a true wood drawing of remarkable finesse.

The work is executed on cedar wood from Lebanon, a precious species among the most sought-after and expensive during the Renaissance. This choice testifies to the prestigious nature of the object of which this panel was one of the decorative elements.

The composition echoes Raphael's invention with great fidelity. The treatment of the figures, the richness of the details and the quality of the drawing reveal the exceptional skill of the Venetian craftsmen of the period. The deliberately open sky, intended to accentuate the effects of relief and depth, is a typical feature of these 16th-century workshops.

Made almost during Raphael's lifetime, this panel is among the earliest known representations of the Massacre of the Innocents inspired by his work. Apart from Marcantonio Raimondi's engravings, it may constitute one of the very few, if not the only, early testimony to this composition transposed onto a medium other than paper.

By its quality of execution, historical importance and extreme rarity, this work is more akin to a museum piece than a simple piece of furniture.

Provenance: Former French collection, Paris art market.

Good general state of preservation. Presence of several old cracks, small misses and wear consistent with age.

Dimensions: 48.5 × 33 cm.

Police Register Ref: A100

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