Chair panel 1700 - 1715

Curator: Oh, this is rather striking! A monochrome tableau brimming with swirling baroque ornament and figures. Editor: Yes, quite flamboyant, almost overwhelmingly so. My initial impression is one of potent visual rhetoric meant to convey dominance. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This chair panel was created by Daniel Marot the Elder, dating back to the early 18th century—between 1700 and 1715. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this artifact as part of its decorative arts collection. It appears to be made of textiles and, dare I say, elements of sculpture in the ornate embellishments. Editor: It’s definitely communicating something about the chair’s owner, someone clearly wealthy enough to showcase the height of Baroque extravagance. It looks as though it's referencing some specific iconography. Curator: Ah, keen eye. Observe the central oval cartouche: the scene depicted tells the tale of Europa and the Bull, from classical mythology. She is being abducted by Zeus disguised as a bull. Editor: Yes, and surrounded by male figures acting as caryatids. It feels almost like a power play – a woman carried away and framed, almost literally, by masculine strength. Is this typical of chair panel design in this period? Curator: The period saw the emergence of mythological themes and symbols of wealth; one way the patron underscored status. Chair panels offered an interesting nexus of status, classical revival, and intimate design. We also should remember, the decorative excesses of the Baroque period functioned almost as propaganda, underscoring claims to power and status. Editor: An apt point, a reflection of that era’s social hierarchies—power, visual impact and luxury converging in everyday objects. Seeing something like this brings into sharp focus just how much material culture embodies those hierarchies and then disseminates it over time, imbuing the cultural consciousness. Thank you. Curator: The pleasure was all mine; it is often illuminating when an understanding of cultural symbol merges into the socio-political arena.