A mid-17th Century Dutch cabinet with a series of drawers and cupboards, all with scenes from Ovid's Metamorphoses

Details

Workshop of Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581-1642) A mid-17th Century Dutch cabinet with a series of drawers and cupboards, all with scenes from Ovid's Metamorphoses
The rectangular hinged top enclosing a maroon velvet-lined well, the lid painted with a scene of The Rape of Europa, above an inverse cavetto-moulded cornice and a pair of panelled doors, the reverse painted with scenes of Vertumnus and Pomona and Ceres, enclosing eight short drawers, depicting (left column, top to bottom) Procris giving Cephalus his magical spear and Laelaps, his hound; Venus resting with Adonis; Venus in her chariot; Venus discovering the dead Adonis; (right column, top to bottom) Apollo and Cyparissus; Latona and the Frogs; Mercury and Argos; and Cephalus discovering the dead Procris, around a central panelled door depicting Diana and Endymion, enclosing a mirrored recess divided by gilt Tuscan columns, with bone and ebony parquetry floor, with further drawer above modelled as a balustrade and a drawer below depicting Daedelus and Icarus, above a long drawer, the sides with metal carrying-handles on a later ebonised stand with arched frieze, on turned tapering baluster legs joined by concave stretchers, on ball feet
53 (134.6 cm.) high; 31¼ (79.4 cm.) wide; 14 in. (35.5 cm.) deep

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The composition of the Rape of Europa is repeated in another work by Francken or his studio, also probably a furniture panel, sold in these Rooms, 15 December 1978, lot 65 (see U. Härting, Frans Francken der Jüngere, Freren, 1989, p. 332, no. 315, illustrated, unseen by the author who notes that it is unclear whether autograph or studio). Dr. Härting also lists a similar cabinet, with panels painted by Frans Francken III, in which the compositions of Vertumnus and Pomona (reversed), The Rape of Europa, Venus resting with Adonis and Venus in her chariot recur (ibid., p. 187, illustrated p. 170, pl. 38).

More from Old Master Pictures

View All