Box with Episodes from the Life of the Spinola Family 1636
mattheusmelijn
natural stone pattern
toned paper
sculpture
detailed texture
sculptural image
unrealistic statue
carved into stone
underpainting
structured
watercolor
"Box with Episodes from the Life of the Spinola Family" is a 1636 ivory relief by Dutch artist Mattheus Melijn. The small, detailed work showcases a scene from the lives of the Spinola family, notable Italian noblemen and military leaders. Melijn’s intricate carving captures the lavish dress and formal interactions of the figures, highlighting the artistic virtuosity of this ivory sculptor.
Comments
In the 17th century various silversmiths from the Netherlands were active in the Italian city of Genoa. They were celebrated for their skills in rendering stories in very high relief. These plaquettes are made by the most famous of these craftsmen, Mattheus Melijn of Antwerp. They feature episodes from the life of the Spinola family, and show how a city can be conquered: Maria Spinola procured a duchy through the power of love, her brother Ambrogio through military might. Melijn succeeded in chasing near three-dimensional figures in a flat silver plate, thereby creating the effect of a relief from classical antiquity. These works were probably commissioned by Maria Spinola. In 1636 she was the only still living person of those portrayed, and the most important reliefs present scenes from her life. Here you see the solemnization of her marriage.
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