desco da parto
figure 2: masaccio, desco da parto, 1425 - 28, gemaldegalerie, berlin .
triumph of fame, front of medici - tornabuoni desco da parto, painted by giovanni di ser giovanni c. 1448
[ 1 ] you can read more about this tray in an article by jacqueline marie musacchio here. (jacqueline marie musacchio, “the medici - tornabuoni desco da parto in context” metro politan museum journal 33 (1998): 137–51 .
lorenzo di niccolò, desco da parto (birth salver), with diana and actaeon on obverse and justice on reverse, ca. 1380–1400. tempera on wood panel. famsf, gift of the roscoe and margaret oakes foundation, 78. 78
daniela pagliai and allessandra uguccioni ,
un desco fiorentino della fine del trecento: temi di iconografia profana
, notizie da palazzo albani 15 (1986): p. 9 - 18 .
unknown artist, italian, florence or siena birth tray (desco da parto) depicting the birth of the virgin, ca. 1430 tempera and gold on panel diameter: 58. 4 cm (23 inches) frame gift of mr. and mrs. manton b. metcalf 18. 190
elaborate birth trays, also known as
desco da partos ,
were created to commemorate a child' s successful birth. meanwhile, elaborate luxury furniture usually consisted of richly styled, handcrafted wood designs .
title: the medici - tornabuoni
desco da parto
in context [ the author argues that the large and elaborately painted birth tray now in the metropolitan museum was given by piero de medici to his wife lucrezia tornabuoni on the birth of their son, lorenzo de medici; the author explores the production and use of birth trays in the celebration of childbirth in post - plague italy ] .
a type of circular or twelve - sided painted wooden tray used in medieval and renaissance italy to present small gifts, sweetmeats, and wine to a mother after childbirth. deschi da parto were often decorated on both sides, typically with an appropriate narrative or symbolic scene on one side and a coat of arms or family device on the other. many of them were produced in workshops specializing in cassoni, although they were occasionally commissioned from distinguished artists. one of the best surviving examples of a desco da parto is that marking the birth of lorenzo de' medici in 1449 (met. mus. , new york); it shows the triumph of fame and was painted by masaccio' s brother lo scheggia .
often these images related to childbirth and motherhood, and other times they carried more generic themes such as the “triumph of love, ” like this one (1470) at wellesley college’s davis museum or the “triumph of fame” decorating the metropolitan museum’s tray (1449) which celebrated the birth of lorenzo de’ medici. [ 1 ] often birth trays were specially commissioned, as is the case with some of the more famous deschi da parto that today survive in museum collections, but the demand for birth trays was such that artist’s workshops also made generic deschi da parto that could be personalized with a coat of arms or other family symbol. [ 2 ]
i also love the desco da parto, because it’s an example of art that was actually used—not just looked at. unlike public sculpture or paintings for a home or a church or a palazzo, these trays had a very specific function and continued to be a part of the domestic lives of their recipients for years to come. in these rather personal works of art, we can get a glimpse into the lives of renaissance women. to my mind, art history hardly ever gets better than that .
this period also saw incredible improvements in the overall understanding of the human form, as famed artists like leonardo da vinci tirelessly worked to study and record it through meticulously drawn observations .
i have no desire to return to the days before modern medicine when women (and their babies) regularly died in childbirth. but i do love the tradition of the desco da parto, which was certainly borne out of an awareness of the dangers of childbirth. “you safely made it through this dangerous experience! and there’s a baby to boot! let’s celebrate! ” i think of it as the renaissance equivalent of bringing someone a tray of lasagna, but instead of using a disposable foil pan, using a handcrafted piece of pottery, specially made for just this occasion. i love it .
all this had me thinking about one of my favorite things i learned about in graduate school: the desco da parto or “birth tray. ” in renaissance italy, a woman would not have had a baby shower. in fact, she would more likely have been sequestered away from public view as she fearfully waited for labor to begin. after all, with such high mortality rates, it seems wise not to celebrate until you know everything has turned out okay. but, after delivering a baby, a woman was showered with gifts, which were often presented on these birth trays. sweets and other trifles were presented on the tray, which was painted with “feminine” or celebratory imagery .
at first glance, the relief appears to have been designed within the traditional format used for birth iconography; the depiction of the ‘lying - in scene’ (depicting the birth of a child) and the portrayal of the presentation of the child to the father for naming. [ 2 ] this scene realistically portrays the event which took place within the feminine and private realm of the birth chamber. verrocchio graphically depicts the apparent dangers associated with childbirth and motherhood, which were faced by all women. traditional lying - in scenes commonly found on birth trays such as masaccio’s 1425 desco da parto (fig. 2) represented the ideal situation and outcome for this process, namely the successful birth of the child (preferably a boy) and the survival of the mother .
lying - in is an old childbirth practice involving a woman resting in bed for a period after giving birth. though the term is now usually defined as
the condition of a woman in the process of giving birth ,
it previously referred to a period of bed rest required even if there were no medical complications. a 1932 publication refers to lying - in as ranging from 2 weeks to 2 months. it also does not suggest
getting up
for at least nine days and ideally for 20 days. when lying - in was a more common term, it was used in the names of several hospitals. for example, the royal women’s hospital in australia was originally known as the
melbourne lying - in hospital and infirmary for diseases of women and children
. women received congratulatory visits from friends and family during the period, and among many traditional customs around the world the desco da parto was a special form of painted tray presented to the mother in renaissance florence .
one of the most beguiling and enigmatic paintings ever made by the great renaissance master raphael, portrait of a lady with a unicorn, exemplifies ideal beauty in 16th century florence. this talk examines the painting and explores art of the high renaissance, including works by leonardo da vinci, michelangelo buonarroti, and many others .
this is perhaps the' tondo' mentioned by vasari as in the pucci family home in 1568. the shape of the tondo may have evolved from the' desco da parto', a painted plate presented to a mother after childbirth. the challenge of the tondo is to create a coherent composition in a circular space. this is a stimulus to centralise the composition. botticelli is among the first artists to centralise the subject of the adoration. it had usually been represented as a flow across the picture plane, as in botticelli' s own earlier' adoration', also in the collection. the story of the three kings (or magi) had great appeal in 15th - century florence and a confraternity of the magi was attached to the church of san marco there. it celebrated the feast of the epiphany with spectacular processions about the city. the pucci family, who may have commissioned this picture, were supporters of the ruling medici and probably chose the subject of the adoration because of its association with them. cosimo de' medici had his own cell in san marco, decorated with a fresco of the adoration, and in the medici palace chapel, portraits of the family and their allies are placed in the retinue of the kings .
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diam. 57. 5 cm (22 5 / 8 in .) frame: 65. 7 x 66. 4 x 6. 3 cm (25 7 / 8 x 26 1 / 8 x 2 1 / 2 in. )
in fifteenth - century italian households, childbirth was a highly anticipated but potentially perilous event often associated with special objects designed to assist expectant mothers. a
, or “birthing tray, ” was used to carry gifts and food to new mothers recovering in the confinement chamber. a lavishly decorated
like this one was found only in the wealthiest family collections, but household inventories show that more modest examples were common in lower social classes. the scene depicted here conforms to the festive tone characteristic of
. it alludes to paradisiacal themes and allegorical representations of love that were popular in vernacular literature, such as the poetry of boccaccio and petrarch .
vera minazzi and cesarino ruini, historical atlas of medieval music, (turnhout, belgium: brepols, 2011) .
anthony grafton, l eon battista alberti: master builder of the italian renaissance (new york: hill and wang, 2000) .
jacqueline marie musacchio, the art and ritual of childbirth in renaissance italy, (new haven and london: yale university press, 1999) .
sharon fermor ,
on the question of pictorial
evidence
for fifteenth - century dance technique
, dance research 5, no. 2 (autumn, 1987): p. 18 - 32 .
paul f. watson, the garden of love in tuscan art of the early renaissance, (philadelphia: art alliance press, 1979) .
domenico derobertis ,
ut pictura poesis: (uno spiraglio sul mondo figurativo albertiano )
, interpres 1 (1978): p. 27 - 42 .
b. b. fredericksen and f. zeri, census of pre - nineteenth - century italian paintings in north american collections, (cambridge, ma: harvard university press, 1972) .
summary of acquisitions, 1963 ,
record of the art museum, princeton university, vol. 23, no. 1 (1964): p. 29 - 31 .
patrick j. kelleher ,
college museum notes
, art journal 23, no. 1 (autumn, 1963): p. 46 - 56 .
raimond van marle, iconographie de l' art profane au moyen - age et à la renaissance et la décoration des demeures, (' s - gravenhage: m. nijhoff, 1931 - 1932) .
theodor demmler, otto von falke, max j. friedländer, leo planiscig and august schestag, die sammlung dr. albert figdor, (berlin: paul cassirer; wien: artaria & co. , 1930) .
raimond van marle, the development of the italian schools of painting, (the hague: m. nijhoff, 1923 - 1938) .
paul schubring, cassoni: truhen und truhenbilder der italienischen frührenaissance: ein beitrag zur profanmalerei im quattrocento, (leipzig: k. w. hiersemann, 1923) .
paul schubring, cassoni: truhen und truhenbilder der italienischen frührenaissance: ein beitrag zur profanmalerei im quattrocento, (leipzig: k. w. hiersemann, 1915) .
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63. 8 x 64. 5 x 4. 4 cm (25 1 / 8 x 25 3 / 8 x 1 3 / 4 in. )
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during the 1400s, wealthy italians gave painted trays such as this one to celebrate marriages and anticipate successful childbearing. the birth of mary, who would become the mother of jesus, was an appropriate subject to represent the delivery of a healthy child .
set in a 15th - century italian home, this scene shows anne, mary’s mother, receiving nourishment at her bedside. as a neighbor arrives with gifts, attendants bathe the baby mary and warm her blankets over a fire. although worn by age, the tray’s painted narratives and traces of gold leaf indicate that this was a luxury object, intended for display and not for practical use .
jean - baptiste oudry french, 1686 - 1755 dead bird, ca. 1740 - 1750 oil on canvas 36. 8 x 26. 7 cm (14 1 / 2 x 10 1 / 2 inches) jesse metcalf fund, georgianna sayles aldrich fund, mary b. jackson fund, and edgar j. lownes fund 54. 176
domenico tintoretto italian, 1560 - 1635 sketch for a battle scene: tancred and clorinda, ca. 1586 - 1600 oil on canvas 71. 1 x 41. 9 cm (28 x 16 1 / 2 inches) mary b. jackson fund 53. 122
nassos daphnis american, b. greece, 1914 - 2010 three feathers, 1938 oil on canvas 71. 1 x 56 cm (28 x 22 1 / 8 inches) mary b. jackson fund 44. 085
unknown artist, roman fragment of a wall depicting a candelabrum, 14 - 37 ce fresco and lime painting 54 x 40 cm (21 1 / 4 x 15 3 / 4 inches) museum appropriation fund 38. 058. 20
unknown artist, roman fragment of a wall depicting a candelabrum, 14 - 37 ce fresco and lime painting 150. 5 x 35. 9 cm (59 5 / 16 x 14 1 / 8 inches) mary b. jackson fund 41. 019
unknown artist, roman fragment of a black wall, 14 - 37 ce fresco and lime painting 104. 1 x 127. 6 cm (41 x 50 1 / 4 inches) museum appropriation fund 38. 058. 2c
unknown artist, roman fragment of a black and red wall, 14 - 37 ce fresco and lime painting 97. 2 x 246. 4 cm (38 1 / 4 x 97 inches) museum appropriation fund 38. 058. 5b
unknown artist, roman fresco, 30 - 79 ce fresco and lime painting 163. 2 x 160. 7 cm (64 3 / 16 x 63 5 / 16 inches) museum appropriation fund 38. 058. 9
unknown artist, egyptian, from the fayum oasis portrait of a woman, ca. 70 ce encaustic on wood 37. 5 x 21. 9 cm (14 3 / 4 x 8 5 / 8 inches) gift of mrs. jesse h. metcalf 17. 060
unknown artist, egyptian, from the fayum oasis portrait of a man, ca. 150 - 160 ce probably tempera on wood 34. 3 x 19. 7 cm (13 1 / 2 x 7 3 / 4 inches) mary b. jackson fund 39. 025
unknown artist, egyptian, from the fayum oasis portrait of a man, ca. 260 ce probably tempera on wood 33 x 18. 4 cm (13 x 7 1 / 4 inches) mary b. jackson fund 39. 026
unknown artist, roman - egyptian painting of the god heron, ca. 300 painted wood 52. 4 x 42. 6 cm (20 5 / 8 x 16 3 / 4 inches) (without frame) museum works of art fund 59. 030
lippo memmi italian, active 1317 - ca. 1350 mary magdalene, ca. 1330 tempera and gold on panel 49. 5 x 22. 5 cm (19 1 / 2 x 8 7 / 8 inches) museum appropriation fund 21. 250
bartolo di fredi cini italian madonna and child, ca. 1380 tempera and gold on panel 90. 2 x 63. 5 cm (35 1 / 2 x 25 inches) anonymous gift 20. 207
attributed to yintolo chinese, late 13th century shide, 1300s ink on silk 97. 8 x 35. 6 cm (38 1 / 2 x 14 inches) gift of mrs. gustav radeke 20. 319
unknown artist, korean gwaneum, 1300s ink, color, and gold on silk mount: 259. 1 x 109. 9 cm (102 x 43 1 / 4 inches) gift of mrs. gustav radeke 17. 378
jacopo di cione italian, ca. 1330 - 1398 the taking of saint peter, 1370 - 1371 tempera and gold on panel 38. 7 x 54 cm (15 1 / 4 x 21 1 / 4 inches) gift of manton b. metcalf 22. 047
spinello aretino italian st. anthony abbot enthroned, ca. 1385 tempera and gold on panel 232. 4 x 92. 1 x 22. 2 cm (91 1 / 2 x 36 1 / 4 x 8 3 / 4 inches) gift of jesse h. metcalf 16. 243
mariotto di nardo italian, active ca. 1394 - 1424 saint francis receiving the stigmata, ca. 1408 tempera and gold on panel 23. 5 x 28. 9 cm (9 1 / 4 x 11 3 / 8 inches) museum appropriation fund 17. 521
jan joest dutch, ca. 1450 - 1519 attributed to jan mostaert dutch, ca. 1475 - 1555 / 56 portrait of a woman, ca. 1520 oil on panel 36. 2 x 24. 8 cm (14 5 / 16 x 9 13 / 16 inches) museum appropriation fund 34. 861
mariotto di nardo italian, active ca. 1394 - 1424 martyrdom of saint lawrence, ca. 1408 tempera and gold on panel 23. 5 x 31. 1 cm (9 1 / 4 x 12 1 / 4 inches) museum appropriation fund 17. 520
attributed to hillebrant van rewijk netherlandish, 1455 - 1470 the crucifixion with two thieves, ca. 1450 - 1460 oil on panel 71. 1 x 48. 3 cm (28 x 19 inches) georgianna sayles aldrich, mary b. jackson, jesse metcalf, edgar j. lownes, walter h. kimball, corporation membership and helen m. danforth acquisition funds 61. 080
andrea delitio italian, active ca. 1440 - 1480 king totila blessed by saint benedict, ca. 1451 tempera and gold on panel 24. 1 x 35. 2 cm (9 1 / 2 x 13 7 / 8 inches) museum appropriation fund 22. 101
unknown artist, french, france angel with crown and flagellum, ca. 1460 oil on panel 32. 4 x 32. 4 x 5. 1 cm (12 3 / 4 x 12 3 / 4 x 2 inches) anonymous gift 60. 105
bruges master netherlandish, active late 15th century portrait of a cleric, ca. 1490 oil on panel 22. 2 x 14. 6 x 5. 7 cm (8 3 / 4 x 5 3 / 4 x 2 1 / 4 inches) museum purchase with funds from mrs. gustav radeke, manton b. metcalf, museum works of art fund and museum appropriation fund, by exchange, and museum special reserve fund 45. 042
matteo di giovanni di bartolo italian, ca. 1430 - 1495 virgin of the annunciation, ca. 1474 tempera and gold on wood panel 73. 7 x 41. 9 x 3. 2 cm (29 x 16 1 / 2 x 1 1 / 4 inches) gift of mr. robert lehman 57. 301
marco basaiti greek, ca. 1470 - ca. 1530 portrait of a gentleman, ca. 1510 oil on panel 49. 2 x 38. 1 cm (19 3 / 8 x 15 inches) gift of manton b. metcalf 16. 235
andrea previtali italian, ca. 1470 - 1528 risen christ, ca. 1510 tempera on panel 29. 2 x 26 cm (11 1 / 2 x 10 1 / 4 inches) gift of manton b. metcalf 16. 237
unknown artist, spanish, spain crucifixion, ca. 1490 tempera and gold on panel 143. 8 x 113 cm (56 5 / 8 x 44 1 / 2 inches) gift of john nicholas brown 69. 197
dosso dossi italian, ca. 1486 - ca. 1542 entry into the ark, ca. 1520 oil on canvas 107 x 112. 4 cm (42 1 / 8 x 44 1 / 4 inches) helen m. danforth acquisition fund 54. 177
unknown artist, possibly; netherlandish madonna and child with saint barbara and saint catherine, ca. 1525 oil on panel 91. 4 x 87 cm (36 x 34 1 / 4 inches) museum works of art fund 58. 196
unknown artist, japanese in the style of tōyo sesshū japanese, 1420 - 1506 landscape, 1500s ink and color on paper 146. 1 x 77. 5 cm (57 1 / 2 x 30 1 / 2 inches) bequest of john m. crawford, jr. 1989. 110. 94
in the style of sultan muhammad persian, active ca. 1505 - 1550 ascension of the prophet muhammad, 1500 - 1550s ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper helen m. danforth acquisition fund 84. 147
unknown artist, netherlandish the adoration of the magi, ca. 1510 oil on wood panel 52. 1 x 34. 6 cm (20 1 / 2 x 13 5 / 8 inches) gift of manton b. metcalf 21. 482
francesco primaticcio italian, 1503 - 1570 andromache learning of the death of hector, ca. 1550 oil on canvas 185. 4 x 225. 1 cm (73 x 88 5 / 8 inches) museum works of art fund 56. 083
attributed to domenico brusasorci italian, ca. 1515 - 1567 portrait of a woman, ca. 1550 - 1559 oil on canvas museum appropriation fund 30. 057
mirabello cavalori italian, ca. 1530 - 1572 annunciate virgin, ca. 1560 oil on panel 144. 8 x 86. 4 cm (57 x 34 inches) lyra brown nickerson bequest 16. 464x
marinus van reymerswaele flemish, ca. 1490 - ca. 1567 the money changers, ca. 1540 oil on panel 126. 4 x 96. 8 cm (49 3 / 4 x 38 1 / 8 inches) gift of mrs. jesse h. metcalf 25. 037
bartolomeo passarotti italian, 1529 - 1592 portrait of a cavalier with his hunting dogs, ca. 1570 - 1580 oil on canvas 197. 5 x 114. 9 cm (77 3 / 4 x 45 1 / 4 inches) corporate membership fund 62. 064
luca cambiaso italian, 1527 - 1585 pietà with angels, ca. 1575 oil on canvas 180. 3 x 113. 2 cm (71 x 44 9 / 16 inches) mary b. jackson fund 59. 049
jacopo bassano italian, 1510 - 1592 sketch for an altarpiece, ca. 1575 oil on canvas 45. 7 x 36. 8 cm (18 x 14 1 / 2 inches) anonymous gift 57. 158
school of jacopo tintoretto italian, 1519 - 1594 daniel in judgment of the elders, ca. 1575 oil on canvas 57. 5 x 113. 7 cm (22 5 / 8 x 44 3 / 4 inches) anonymous gift 57. 159
cornelis cornelisz. van haarlem dutch, 1562 - 1638 the judgment of paris, ca. 1585 - 1595 oil on panel 31. 1 x 44. 5 cm (12 1 / 4 x 17 1 / 2 inches) museum membership fund 67. 010
francesco bassano ii italian, 1549 - 1592 the birth of the virgin, ca. 1588 oil on canvas 100. 7 x 82. 9 cm (39 5 / 8 x 32 5 / 8 inches) mary b. jackson fund 52. 318
ippolito scarsello, called scarsellino italian, ca. 1550 - 1620 the rape of europa, ca. 1590 oil on canvas 118. 1 x 163. 2 cm (46 1 / 2 x 64 1 / 4 inches) bequest of miss ellen d. sharpe 54. 147. 75
giuseppe cesari italian, 1568 - 1640 perseus and andromeda, ca. 1592 oil on slate 70. 5 x 54. 9 cm (27 3 / 4 x 21 5 / 8 inches) anonymous gift 57. 167
leandro bassano italian, 1557 - 1622 adoration of the shepherds, ca. 1592 - 1594 oil on canvas 104. 1 x 167. 6 cm (41 x 66 inches) museum purchase: bequest of lyra brown nickerson, by exchange 81. 093
artist of fontainebleau school french, active mid - 1500s charity, ca. 1550 oil on canvas 158. 1 x 133. 4 cm (62 1 / 4 x 52 1 / 2 inches) anonymous gift 57. 157
attributed to domenichino italian, 1581 - 1641 landscape with bathers, ca. 1600 - 1630 oil on canvas 77. 2 x 132. 7 cm (30 3 / 8 x 52 1 / 4 inches) museum works of art fund 55. 107
unknown artist, indian city in a landscape, ca. 1600 - 1625 ink and color on paper image: 8. 3 x 10. 2 cm (3 1 / 4 x 4 inches) museum appropriation fund 17. 457
domenico fetti italian, ca. 1589 - 1623 christ ministered to by the angels, ca. 1620 oil on canvas 89. 5 x 78. 1 cm (35 1 / 4 x 30 3 / 4 inches) museum appropriation fund 36. 003
hendrick van steenwyck the elder flemish, ca. 1550 - 1603 interior of aachen cathedral, 1575 oil on panel 50. 8 x 69. 5 cm (20 x 27 3 / 8 inches) gift of drs. arnold - peter c. and yvonne s. weiss 2000. 25
unknown artist, anglo; flemish, england portrait of a lady of the hampden family, ca. 1610 oil on canvas 201. 3 x 120 cm (79 1 / 4 x 47 1 / 4 inches) gift of miss lucy t. aldrich 42. 283
jan thilens flemish, 1589 - 1630 perseus freeing andromeda, ca. 1610 oil on panel 22. 5 x 15. 9 x 3. 8 cm (8 7 / 8 x 6 1 / 4 x 1 1 / 2 inches) gift of the wunsch foundation, inc. 1989. 124. 1
suraj gujarati indian basawan, designer indian workmen in a garden, around 1590 ink, watercolor, and gold on paper sheet: 26. 7 x 15. 9 cm (10 1 / 2 x 6 1 / 4 inches) museum appropriation fund 17. 463
jacob jordaens the younger flemish, 1593 - 1678 return of the holy family from egypt, ca. 1615 - 1616 oil on canvas 74. 9 x 54. 6 cm (29 1 / 2 x 21 1 / 2 inches) museum works of art fund 60. 094
guido reni italian, 1575 - 1642 st. sebastian, ca. 1615 oil on canvas 134. 3 x 91. 4 cm (52 7 / 8 x 36 inches) museum gift fund 55. 112
unknown artist, turkish, istanbul abu jahl and his warriors, ca. 1594 - 95 opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper sheet: 37. 5 x 26. 7 cm (14 3 / 4 x 10 1 / 2 inches) gift of mr. and mrs. john d. slocum 85. 106
attributed to jean ducamps, called giovanni del campo french, 1600 - 1683 unknown artist, italian, france the flagellation of christ, ca. 1620 oil on canvas 118. 1 x 149. 2 cm (46 1 / 2 x 58 3 / 4 inches) museum works of art fund 56. 037
francesco vanni italian, 1563 - 1610 the virgin and child appearing to saint francis of assisi, 1599 oil on canvas 266. 1 x 182. 9 cm (104 3 / 4 x 72 inches) corporate membership fund 57. 227
guido reni italian, 1575 - 1642 lucretia, ca. 1625 oil on canvas 108. 6 x 98. 1 cm (42 3 / 4 x 38 5 / 8 inches) anonymous gift 56. 102
after guido reni italian, 1575 - 1642 heads of two elders (fragment from susannah and the elders), 1600s oil on canvas 49. 2 x 65. 4 cm (19 3 / 8 x 25 3 / 4 inches) anonymous gift 57. 163
unknown artist, flemish portrait of a boy, 1600s oil on canvas 87. 6 x 67. 3 cm (34 1 / 2 x 26 1 / 2 inches) gift of dr. and mrs. edward m. harris 23. 321
benjamin gerritsz. cuyp dutch, 1612 - 1652 the resurrection of christ, ca. 1640 oil on panel 92. 1 x 70. 2 cm (36 1 / 4 x 27 5 / 8 inches) georgianna sayles aldrich and mary b. jackson funds 62. 019
man ray american, 1890 - 1976 songe de la clef, 1941 string (fiber product); rubber; paper; watercolor; crayon 34. 3 x 44. 8 cm (13 1 / 2 x 17 5 / 8 inches) gift of mrs. john g. dean 71. 056
hendrick goltzius dutch, 1558 - 1617 christ on the cold stone with two angels, 1602 oil on copper 51 x 34. 5 cm (20 1 / 16 x 13 9 / 16 inches) (measure of the copper panel support) museum gift fund, museum works of art fund and corporate membership fund 61. 006
nicolas poussin french, 1594 - 1665 venus and adonis, ca. 1628 oil on canvas 76. 2 x 101 cm (30 x 39 3 / 4 inches) walter h. kimball fund, georgianna sayles aldrich fund, mary b. jackson fund, edgar j. lownes fund and jesse metcalf fund 54. 186
dirck van delen dutch, 1604 - 1671 architectural interior at night with the priests of bel, ca. 1628 oil on panel 52. 1 x 74. 3 cm (20 1 / 2 x 29 1 / 4 inches) gift of mr. morris i. kaplan 55. 153. 1
joachim antonisz. wtewael dutch, 1566 - 1638 the marriage of peleus and thetis, 1610 oil on panel 109. 5 x 166. 4 cm (43 1 / 8 x 65 1 / 2 inches) mary b. jackson fund 62. 058
pieter lastman dutch, 1583 - 1633 saint matthew, 1613 oil on oak panel 35. 6 x 26. 7 cm (14 x 10 1 / 2 inches) corporate membership dues funds 60. 093
carlo dolci italian, 1616 - 1687 the trinity in glory, ca. 1640 oil on canvas 69. 5 x 59. 7 cm (27 3 / 8 x 23 1 / 2 inches) anonymous gift 59. 009
francisco collantes spanish, 1599 - 1656 hagar and ishmael, ca. 1640 oil on canvas 109. 2 x 139. 1 cm (43 x 54 3 / 4 inches) gift of manton b. metcalf 18. 096
salomon van ruysdael dutch, ca. 1600 - 1670 the ferry boat, 1645 oil on canvas 97. 2 x 144. 2 cm (38 1 / 4 x 56 3 / 4 inches) museum appropriation fund 33. 204
frans van mieris i dutch, 1635 - 1681 interior with man and woman, mid 1600s - late 1600s oil paint 22. 2 x 18. 7 cm (8 13 / 16 x 7 3 / 8 inches) gift of virginia w. hoppin in memory of william h. hoppin 20. 227
attributed to payag indian shah shuja hunting nilgai, ca. 1650 - 1655 opaque watercolor and gold on paper museum works of art fund 58. 068
jan cossiers flemish, 1600 - 1671 the supper at emmaus, ca. 1650 oil on canvas 85. 1 x 111. 1 cm (33 1 / 2 x 43 3 / 4 inches) gift of dr. and mrs. edward m. harris 23. 332
paulus moreelse dutch, 1571 - 1638 portrait of antoine van hilten, 1625 oil on canvas 123. 2 x 97. 2 cm (48 1 / 2 x 38 1 / 4 inches) gift of mr. and mrs. winthrop w. aldrich 60. 110
matteo rosselli italian, 1578 - 1650 joseph sold to the ishmaelites, ca. 1630 oil on canvas 136. 5 x 104. 8 cm (53 3 / 4 x 41 1 / 4 inches) museum works of art fund 66. 310
dirck van delen dutch, 1604 - 1671 architectural scene: a palace court, 1627 oil on panel 63. 5 x 88. 1 cm (25 x 34 11 / 16 inches) gift of mr. and mrs. h. l. weller 67. 102
jacob adriaensz. bellevois dutch, 1621 - 1676 harbor scene, ca. 1653 oil on panel 91. 4 x 142. 2 cm (36 x 56 inches) bequest of isabelle reynolds 1998. 96
sébastien bourdon french, 1616 - 1671 landscape with a mill, ca. 1653 - 1657 oil on canvas 86 x 105. 1 cm (33 7 / 8 x 41 3 / 8 inches) mary b. jackson fund 51. 506
matthias stomer dutch, ca. 1600 - after ca. 1650 christ at the column, ca. 1635 oil on canvas 182. 9 x 114. 5 cm (72 x 45 1 / 16 inches) museum works of art fund 56. 177
bartholomeus van der helst dutch, 1613 - 1670 portrait of a woman, ca. 1655 oil on canvas 111. 8 x 97. 2 cm (44 x 38 1 / 4 inches) museum associates’ fund 60. 009
bartholomeus van der helst dutch, 1613 - 1670 portrait of a man, ca. 1655 oil on canvas 111. 8 x 97. 2 cm (44 x 38 1 / 4 inches) gift of the haffenreffer family 60. 010
abraham hendricksz. van beyeren dutch, ca. 1620 - 1690 still life of fish, ca. 1655 oil on canvas 97. 2 x 84. 8 cm (38 1 / 4 x 33 3 / 8 inches) helen m. danforth acquisition fund and gift of group 104 64. 035
willem drost dutch, ca. 1630–after 1680 portrait of a young man, ca. 1655 oil on canvas 53. 3 x 48. 3 cm (21 x 19 inches) museum purchase: gift of the museum associates 83. 113
michele pace del campidoglio italian, ca. 1610 - ca. 1670 still life with figure, ca. 1660 oil on canvas 122. 2 x 160. 7 cm (48 1 / 8 x 63 1 / 4 inches) mary b. jackson fund 60. 107
jan siberechts flemish, 1627 - ca. 1703 landscape, ca. 1660 oil on canvas 47 x 58. 1 cm (18 1 / 2 x 22 7 / 8 inches) museum appropriation fund 39. 045
unknown artist, dutch; flemish portrait of a young girl, ca. 1660 oil on canvas 162. 6 x 114. 3 cm (64 x 45 inches) gift of james warren lane in memory of mrs. eva metcalf bliss lane 24. 443
melchior d’ hondecoeter dutch, 1636 - 1695 cocks fighting, ca. 1663 - 1664 oil on canvas 81. 9 x 101 cm (32 1 / 4 x 39 3 / 4 inches) gift of mr. and mrs. norman hirschl 68. 015
lieve verschuir dutch, ca. 1630 - 1686 harbor scene, ca. 1670 - 1680 oil on canvas 35. 9 x 48. 3 cm (14 1 / 8 x 19 inches) gift of the wunsch foundation, inc. 1987. 113. 1
attributed to henri gascard french, 1634 - 1701 allegorical portrait of a lady as fortune, ca. 1674 - 1679 oil on canvas 195. 6 x 109. 2 cm (77 x 43 inches) gift of julius h. weitzner 55. 152
aert de gelder dutch, 1645 - 1727 portrait of an old man, ca. 1680 - 1685 oil on canvas 91. 1 x 76. 5 cm (35 7 / 8 x 30 1 / 8 inches) gift of dr. and mrs. edward m. harris 23. 330
jeanne vergouwen flemish, 1630 - 1714 portrait of andries rademaker, notary, displaying a statuette, 1656 oil on panel 34. 1 x 26. 7 cm (13 7 / 16 x 10 1 / 2 inches) gift of the wunsch americana foundation, inc. 1990. 107
louis boullogne the younger french, 1654 - 1733 augustus orders the closing of the doors of the temple of janus, ca. 1681 oil on canvas 72. 4 x 58. 4 cm (28 1 / 2 x 23 inches) mary b. jackson fund 73. 122
aert de gelder dutch, 1645 - 1727 esther and mordecai, ca. 1685 oil on canvas 59. 7 x 143. 5 cm (23 1 / 2 x 56 1 / 2 inches) museum appropriation fund 17. 138
claudio coello spanish, 1642 - 1693 portrait of a monk, ca. 1685 oil on canvas 33 x 24. 6 cm (13 x 9 11 / 16 inches) walter h. kimball fund, georgianna sayles aldrich fund, mary b. jackson fund, edgar j. lownes fund and jesse metcalf fund 54. 181
after carlo maratti italian, 1625 - 1713 cleopatra, ca. 1695 oil on canvas mounted on cardboard 114. 3 x 81. 9 cm (45 x 32 1 / 4 inches) museum works of art fund 59. 007
hyacinthe rigaud french, 1659 - 1743 portrait of louis of france, the grand dauphin (1661 - 1711), ca. 1697 - 1721 oil on canvas 90. 8 x 73. 8 cm (35 3 / 4 x 29 1 / 16 inches) gift of mrs. gustav radeke 30. 027
adriaen van der werff dutch, 1659 - 1722 the expulsion of hagar and ishmael, ca. 1699 oil on canvas 76. 5 x 61. 6 cm (30 1 / 8 x 24 3 / 16 inches) helen m. danforth acquisition fund 59. 063
attributed to isaac de moucheron dutch, 1667 - 1774 landscape with fountain, ca. 1700 oil on canvas 66. 4 x 55. 2 cm (26 1 / 8 x 21 3 / 4 inches) bequest of miss ellen d. sharpe 54. 147. 83
eglon hendrick van der neer dutch, 1634 - 1703 allegory of death, 1677 oil on panel 38. 7 x 31. 8 cm (15 1 / 4 x 12 1 / 2 inches) helen m. danforth acquisition fund 77. 047
alessandro magnasco italian, 1667 - 1749 arsenal in a ruined basilica, ca. 1711 - 1720 oil on canvas 146. 7 x 214. 6 cm (57 13 / 16 x 84 1 / 2 inches) museum works of art fund, museum membership fund, georgiana sayles aldrich fund, mary b. jackson fund, edgar j. lownes fund, walter h. kimball fund, jesse metcalf fund, and museum gift fund 63. 061
follower of canaletto italian, 1697 - 1768 view of the grand canal, venice, with churches of the scalzi and santa lucia, 1700s oil on canvas 51. 8 x 83. 8 cm (20 3 / 8 x 33 inches) gift of mrs. robert h. ives goddard, jr. 42. 042
attributed to jan van huysum dutch, 1682 - 1749 still life with flowers, ca. 1715 - 1730 oil on canvas 35. 6 x 27. 9 cm (14 x 11 inches) gift of d. berkeley updike in memory of elisabeth bigelow updike 36. 018
john baptist de medina spanish - flemish, 1659 - 1710 self portrait, ca. 1700 oil on canvas 76. 2 x 63. 2 cm (30 x 24 7 / 8 inches) georgianna sayles aldrich fund 57. 228
domenico maria muratori italian, 1661 - 1744 the death of cleopatra, ca. 1720 oil on canvas 95. 3 x 73 cm (37 1 / 2 x 28 3 / 4 inches) anonymous gift 58. 088
giovanni battista gaulli, called il baciccio italian, 1639 - 1709 cardinal taddeo luigi dal verme, ca. 1700 oil on canvas 90. 8 x 74. 9 cm (35 3 / 4 x 29 1 / 2 inches) museum works of art fund 55. 106
francesco guardi italian, 1712 - 1793 scuola di san marco with loggia erected for benediction of pope pius vi may 19, 1782, campo san zanipolo, ca. 1782 oil on canvas 38. 7 x 32. 4 cm (15 1 / 4 x 12 3 / 4 inches) gift of mrs. murray s. danforth 53. 115
unknown artist, italian floral still life with ruins and urns, 1700s oil on canvas 109. 9 x 134 cm (43 1 / 4 x 52 3 / 4 inches) gift of the estate of william e. brigham 63. 011. 482
unknown artist, italian floral still life with ruins and urns, 1700s oil on canvas 109. 9 x 133. 3 cm (43 5 / 16 x 52 1 / 2 inches) gift of the estate of william e. brigham 63. 011. 483
francesco de mura italian, 1696 - 1782 the sacrifice of iphigenia, ca. 1727 oil on canvas 96. 5 x 128. 6 cm (38 x 50 5 / 8 inches) museum gift fund 55. 113
studio of francesco solimena italian, 1657 - 1747 the annunciation, modello for altarpiece of the church of san rocco, ca. 1733 oil on canvas 128. 1 x 75. 6 cm (50 7 / 16 x 29 3 / 4 inches) jesse metcalf fund 69. 044
karl wilhelm de hamilton flemish, ca. 1668 - 1754 forest still life, ca. 1735 oil on copper 36. 5 x 26. 4 cm (14 3 / 8 x 10 3 / 8 inches) gift of drs. arnold - peter c. and yvonne s. weiss 2003. 140
alonso miguel de tovar spanish, 1678 - 1758 portrait of a gentleman of the mendoza y de la vega family, 1711 oil on canvas 106. 1 x 81 cm (41 3 / 4 x 31 7 / 8 inches) gift of mrs. edwin binney, jr. and mr. and mrs. edwin binney iii 63. 034
pompeo girolamo batoni italian, 1708 - 1787 time revealing truth, ca. 1740 - 1745 oil on canvas 119. 4 x 89. 2 cm (47 x 35 1 / 8 inches) helen m. danforth acquisition fund 59. 065
portrait of philip dormer stanhope, fourth earl of chesterfield, k. g .
william hoare english, ca. 1707 - 1792 portrait of philip dormer stanhope, fourth earl of chesterfield, k. g. , ca. 1742 oil on canvas 64. 1 x 51. 4 cm (25 1 / 4 x 20 1 / 4 inches) museum works of art fund 54. 171
giovanni paolo pannini italian, 1691 - 1765 the colosseum, ca. 1750 oil on canvas 41. 3 x 74. 6 cm (16 1 / 4 x 29 3 / 8 inches) museum works of art fund 56. 094
attributed to andrea locatelli italian, 1695 - 1741 sabine mountains, ca. 1730 oil on canvas 97. 5 x 134 cm (38 3 / 8 x 52 3 / 4 inches) gift of mr. morgan w. rogers in memory of lucy b. rogers 49. 124
giovanni battista tiepolo italian, 1696 - 1770 the angel of fame, ca. 1750 fresco, mounted on canvas 198. 1 x 330. 8 cm (78 x 130 3 / 16 inches) museum appropriation fund 32. 246
a caricature group: sir charles turner, mr. cook, mr. john woodyeare, and rev. dr. william drake
joshua reynolds english, 1723 - 1792 a caricature group: sir charles turner, mr. cook, mr. john woodyeare, and rev. dr. william drake, ca. 1751 oil on canvas 62. 9 x 48. 3 cm (24 13 / 16 x 19 inches) gift of mrs. murray s. danforth 53. 349
gabriel jacques de saint - aubin french, 1724 - 1780 daybreak, ca. 1760 oil on canvas 45. 7 x 103. 5 cm (18 x 40 3 / 4 inches) museum appropriation fund 38. 147
antonio gonzález velázquez i spanish, 1723 - 1793 venus at the forge of vulcan obtaining arms for aeneas, ca. 1753 oil on canvas 121. 9 x 90. 2 cm (48 x 35 1 / 2 inches) helen m. danforth acquisition fund 62. 062
pietro longhi italian, ca. 1700 - 1785 a meal at home, ca. 1753 oil on canvas 61. 9 x 50. 5 cm (24 3 / 8 x 19 7 / 8 inches) museum appropriation fund 34. 1371
nicolas bernard lépicié french, 1735 - 1784 portrait of a man, ca. 1755 oil on canvas 52. 1 x 46. 4 cm (20 1 / 2 x 18 5 / 16 inches) museum works of art fund 54. 170
attributed to françois boucher french, 1703 - 1770 bird - catching cherubs (summer) l’amour oiseleur (l’eté), 1732 - 1733 oil on canvas 71. 1 x 72. 1 cm (28 x 28 3 / 8 inches) anonymous gift 64. 115
pompeo girolamo batoni italian, 1708 - 1787 portrait of a gentleman, ca. 1760 - 1765 oil on canvas 76. 2 x 62. 9 cm (30 x 24 3 / 4 inches) gift of jack linsky 57. 263
attributed to andrea casali italian, 1705 - 1784 the continence of scipio, ca. 1743 oil on canvas 50. 8 x 65. 4 cm (20 x 25 3 / 4 inches) jesse metcalf fund 75. 027
tadeusz kuntze polish, ca. 1733 - 1793 the entombment of christ, ca. 1770 - 1780 oil on canvas 73. 7 x 47 cm (29 x 18 1 / 2 inches) gift of the wunsch foundation, inc. 1990. 094
john singleton copley american, ca. 1738 - 1815 portrait of rebecca boylston gill, ca. 1773 oil on canvas 126. 4 x 100. 3 cm (49 3 / 4 x 39 1 / 2 inches) museum purchase with funds from isaac c. bates, william gammell, henry d. sharpe, miss ellen d. sharpe, elizabeth a. shepard, daniel b. updike, the honorable george p. wetmore and mrs. gustav radeke 07. 120
rev. matthew william peters english, 1742 - 1814 lydia, ca. 1776 oil on canvas 63. 5 x 76. 2 cm (25 x 30 inches) gift of mrs. guy fairfax cary 62. 009
thomas gainsborough english, 1727 - 1788 portrait of a woman, ca. 1760 oil on canvas 75. 6 x 63. 5 cm (29 3 / 4 x 25 inches) gift of mrs. murray s. danforth 85. 140
martin ferdinand quadal moravian, 1736 - 1811 self portrait, ca. 1785 oil on canvas 37. 2 x 27. 3 cm (14 5 / 8 x 10 3 / 4 inches) gift of the wunsch foundation, inc. 1987. 113. 2
john singleton copley american, ca. 1738 - 1815 portrait of govenor moses gill, 1764 oil on canvas 126. 4 x 100. 3 cm (49 3 / 4 x 39 1 / 2 inches) jesse metcalf fund 07. 117
hubert robert french, 1733 - 1808 architectural fantasy, ca. 1802 - 1808 oil on canvas 114 x 147. 8 cm (44 7 / 8 x 58 3 / 16 inches) museum appropriation fund 37. 104
james earl american, 1761 - 1796 portrait of captain samuel packard, ca. 1795 oil on canvas 88. 9 x 74. 3 cm (35 x 29 1 / 4 inches) bequest of miss louise b. bowen 21. 485
john hoppner english, 1758 - 1810 portrait of a lady, ca. 1795 oil on canvas 76. 2 x 63. 5 cm (30 x 25 inches) given in memory of sofia w. vervena by her friends 76. 011
anton raphael mengs german, 1728 - 1779 portrait of an english gentleman, ca. 1754 oil on canvas 99. 1 x 73. 3 cm (39 x 28 7 / 8 inches) corporate membership fund 57. 281
gilbert stuart american, 1755 - 1828 portrait of george washington, ca. 1805 oil on panel 66. 7 x 53. 3 cm (26 1 / 4 x 21 inches) public subscription fund 22. 220
rufus hathaway american, 1770 - 1822 portrait of seth winsor, ca. 1798 oil on canvas 96. 5 x 63. 5 cm (38 x 25 inches) gift of daphne farago americana collection 84. 229
sir william beechey english, 1753 - 1839 portrait of john cook of norwich, 1784 oil on canvas 69. 2 x 49. 5 cm (27 5 / 16 x 19 1 / 2 inches) helen m. danforth acquisition fund 79. 009
james earl american, 1761 - 1796 portrait of abigail congdon packard, ca. 1795 oil on canvas 88. 9 x 73. 7 cm (35 x 29 inches) gift of elizabeth packard white salisbury, william gerald white, and charlotte bowen white spellman 1993. 049
after amable - louis - claude pagnest french, 1790 - 1819 study of a male torso, ca. 1813 oil on canvas 76. 2 x 81. 9 cm (30 x 32 1 / 4 inches) gift of the wunsch foundation, inc. 1987. 113. 3
william etty english, 1787 - 1849 back view of a standing male nude in a boat, ca. 1818 - 1820 oil on paper mounted on panel 68. 6 x 50. 2 cm (27 x 19 3 / 4 inches) anonymous gift 56. 055
john constable english, 1776 - 1837 portrait of mrs. edwards, ca. 1818 oil on canvas 76 x 63. 7 cm (29 15 / 16 x 25 1 / 16 inches) corporate membership fund 58. 197
adèle romany french, 1769 - 1846 portrait of auguste vestris, 1793 oil on canvas 95. 2 x 77. 5 cm (37 1 / 2 x 30 inches) purchased with the edith c. erlenmeyer bequest and the helen m. danforth acquisition fund 2009. 9
angelica kauffmann swiss, 1741 - 1807 praxiteles giving phryne his statue of cupid, 1794 oil on canvas 43. 3 x 48. 6 cm (17 1 / 16 x 19 1 / 8 inches) museum works of art fund 59. 008
jean - louis - andré - théodore géricault french, 1791 - 1824 a cart loaded with kegs, ca. 1822 - 1823 oil on canvas 59. 5 x 73. 3 cm (23 7 / 16 x 28 7 / 8 inches) museum works of art fund 43. 539
attributed to charles meynier french, 1768 - 1832 love is the same for all (amor omnibus idem), 1795 oil on canvas 40. 3 x 32. 4 cm (15 7 / 8 x 12 3 / 4 inches) mary b. jackson fund 72. 145
unknown artist, northern european, denmark portrait of a young lady, ca. 1820 oil on canvas 75. 6 x 59. 9 cm (29 3 / 4 x 23 9 / 16 inches) gift of julius h. weitzner 57. 294
charles lock eastlake english, 1793 - 1865 the celian hill from the palatine, ca. 1823 oil on canvas 33. 5 x 44. 8 x 6. 4 cm (13 3 / 16 x 17 5 / 8 x 2 1 / 2 inches) anonymous gift 56. 099
william blake british, 1757 - 1827 baptism of christ, ca. 1799 tempera over pen and ink on canvas 32. 4 x 49. 2 cm (12 3 / 4 x 19 3 / 8 inches) museum appropriation fund 32. 219
francisco josé de goya y lucientes spanish, 1746 - 1828 portrait of gerónima goicoechea y galarza, 1805 oil on copper diameter: 8. 9 cm (3 1 / 2 inches) gift of grenville l. winthrop 34. 1366
unknown artist, danish; german, germany; denmark snowball fight, ca. 1830 oil on canvas 33 x 43. 3 cm (13 x 17 1 / 16 inches) anonymous gift 57. 160
francisco josé de goya y lucientes spanish, 1746 - 1828 portrait of cesárea goicoechea y galarza, 1805 oil on copper diameter: 8. 9 cm (3 1 / 2 inches) gift of mrs. murray s. danforth 34. 1365
jacques - luc barbier - walbonne french, 1769 - 1860 portrait of antoine - georges - françois de chabaud - latour and his family, 1806 oil on canvas 221 x 174 cm (87 x 68 1 / 2 inches) helen m. danforth acquisition fund 2003. 105
after pierre - paul prud’hon french, 1758 - 1823 divine vengeance and justice pursuing crime, after 1808 oil on canvas 32. 7 x 40. 8 cm (12 7 / 8 x 16 1 / 16 inches) gift of mrs. murray s. danforth in memory of eliza g. radeke on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the rhode island school of design 53. 371
edward matthew ward english, 1816 - 1879 a game of charades, ca. 1840 oil on canvas 112. 1 x 142. 6 cm (44 1 / 8 x 56 1 / 8 inches) museum works of art fund 53. 129
edward mitchell bannister american, 1828 - 1901 portrait of christiana carteaux bannister, ca. 1860 oil on canvas 88. 9 x 65. 7 cm (35 x 25 7 / 8 inches) gift of the edward m. bannister foundation 2016. 38. 1
joseph paelinck belgian, 1781 - 1839 william i, king of the netherlands, 1817 oil on canvas 223. 5 x 175. 3 cm (88 x 69 inches) museum works of art fund 56. 090a
william hilton ii english, 1786 - 1839 the triumph of the duke of wellington, 1817 oil on canvas 97. 2 x 154 cm (38 1 / 4 x 60 5 / 8 inches) museum works of art fund 56. 088
joseph paelinck belgian, 1781 - 1839 frederica wilhelmina, queen of the netherlands, 1817 oil on canvas 223. 5 x 175. 3 cm (88 x 69 inches) museum works of art fund 56. 090b
jean - auguste - dominique ingres french, 1780 - 1867 studies of a head of a man, hands of saint john for christ offering saint peter the keys to paradise, and hooded capuchin monk, ca. 1817 - 1820 oil on canvas 45. 1 x 32. 4 cm (17 3 / 4 x 12 3 / 4 inches) purchased with funds from the bequest of maria dasdagulian in honor of joseph fazzano 2012. 1
after pierre - paul prud’hon french, 1758 - 1823 portrait of madame jarre, 1821 oil on canvas 66 x 56. 2 cm (26 x 22 1 / 8 inches) bequest of mr. charles l. pendleton 04. 166
a painted desco da parto ( a birth tray or birth salver ) was an important symbolic gift on the occasion of a successful birth in late medieval and early modern florence and siena . the surviving painted deschi represented in museum collections were commissioned by elite families , but inventories show that birth trays and other special birth objects like embroidered pillows were kept long after the successful birth in families of all classes : when lorenzo de ' medici died , the inventory shows that the desco da parto given by his father to his mother , lucrezia tornabuoni , at her lying-in , was hanging in his private quarters to the day of his death . a desco da parto need not be specially commissioned ; they were produced in workshops in series for stock , often being personalised with a coat-of-arms when they were bought . there was a distinctive repertoire of iconography for the trays , the recto ( top ) sides sharing much with that for the painted cassone chests often used as gifts at marriage , but also with verso sides often showing scenes of mothers after childbirth or pin-up figures of boy toddlers , accompanied by the coats of arms of both parents . after being used as a tray in the post partum period they could be hung on a wall as a painting . 
a painted desco da parto (a birth tray or birth salver) was an important symbolic gift on the occasion of a successful birth in late medieval and early modern florence and siena. the surviving painted deschi represented in museum collections were commissioned by elite families, but inventories show that birth trays and other special birth objects like embroidered pillows were kept long after the successful birth in families of all classes: when lorenzo de' medici died, the inventory shows that the desco da parto given by his father to his mother, lucrezia tornabuoni, at her lying-in, was hanging in his private quarters to the day of his death. a desco da parto need not be specially commissioned; they were produced in workshops in series for stock, often being personalised with a coat-of-arms when they were bought. there was a distinctive repertoire of iconography for the trays, the recto (top) sides sharing much with that for the painted cassone chests often used as gifts at marriage, but also with verso sides often showing scenes of mothers after childbirth or pin-up figures of boy toddlers, accompanied by the coats of arms of both parents. after being used as a tray in the post partum period they could be hung on a wall as a painting.
a painted desco da parto (a birth tray or birth salver) was an important symbolic gift on the occasion of a successful birth in late medieval and early modern florence and siena. the surviving painted deschi represented in museum collections were commissioned by elite families, but inventories show that birth trays and other special birth objects like embroidered pillows were kept long after the successful birth in families of all classes: when lorenzo de' medici died, the inventory shows that the desco da parto given by his father to his mother, lucrezia tornabuoni, at her lying-in, was hanging in his private quarters to the day of his death. a desco da parto need not be specially commissioned; they were produced in workshops in series for stock, often being personalised with a coat-of-arms when they were bought. there was a distinctive repertoire of iconography for the trays, the recto (top) sides sharing much with that for the painted cassone chests often used as gifts at marriage, but also with verso sides often showing scenes of mothers after childbirth or pin-up figures of boy toddlers, accompanied by the coats of arms of both parents. after being used as a tray in the post partum period they could be hung on a wall as a painting.