Florentine Pietre Dure Plaque
$148,500.00
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Florentine Pietre Dure Plaque
18th Century
A triumph of Florentine craftsmanship, this monumental pietre dure panel stands among the finest surviving examples of its kind. Created in 18th-century Florence, the undisputed epicenter of pietre dure artistry, this opulent work dazzles with its sheer scale, technical complexity and luxurious materials. Large-format examples from this period are virtually unheard of, making this panel an extraordinarily rare and significant find.
Exquisite in both execution and design, the composition is crafted from a symphony of precious and semi-precious stones: richly veined antique red and green marbles, deep blue lapis lazuli, warm tones of jasper, alabaster and striking inclusions of tortoiseshell—a highly unusual and luxurious accent in pietre dure.
The scene unfolds with remarkable vitality: figures in flowing dress animate the foreground, their movement rendered with astonishing fluidity for so rigid a medium. A playful dog, lush plantings and a grand archway complete the tableau. The surface becomes a harmonious celebration of natural stone, cut and inlaid with astonishing precision. Measuring over three feet wide, the panel displays an architectural scale, making it a striking centerpiece.
Florence has led the world in pietre dure artistry since the Medici founded the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in the 16th century. There, artisans developed the highly specialized techniques of hardstone mosaic, used to embellish the most luxurious furnishings, religious objects, and royal commissions in Europe. The difficulty of the craft, requiring intense manual labor, artistic sensitivity and access to rare materials, meant that only the wealthiest patrons could afford such treasures. Today, masterpieces of pietre dure reside in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum and Florence’s own Museo dell’Opificio delle Pietre Dure.
Plaque: 30" high x 38 1/2" wide (76.20 x 97.79 cm)
Framed: 34" high x 42 1/2" wide x 2" deep (86.36 x 107.95 x 5.08 cm)
Florentine Pietre Dure Plaque
$148,500.00
18th Century
A triumph of Florentine craftsmanship, this monumental pietre dure panel stands among the finest surviving examples of its kind. Created in 18th-century Florence, the undisputed epicenter of pietre dure artistry, this opulent work dazzles with its sheer scale, technical complexity and luxurious materials. Large-format examples from this period are virtually unheard of, making this panel an extraordinarily rare and significant find.
Exquisite in both execution and design, the composition is crafted from a symphony of precious and semi-precious stones: richly veined antique red and green marbles, deep blue lapis lazuli, warm tones of jasper, alabaster and striking inclusions of tortoiseshell—a highly unusual and luxurious accent in pietre dure.
The scene unfolds with remarkable vitality: figures in flowing dress animate the foreground, their movement rendered with astonishing fluidity for so rigid a medium. A playful dog, lush plantings and a grand archway complete the tableau. The surface becomes a harmonious celebration of natural stone, cut and inlaid with astonishing precision. Measuring over three feet wide, the panel displays an architectural scale, making it a striking centerpiece.
Florence has led the world in pietre dure artistry since the Medici founded the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in the 16th century. There, artisans developed the highly specialized techniques of hardstone mosaic, used to embellish the most luxurious furnishings, religious objects, and royal commissions in Europe. The difficulty of the craft, requiring intense manual labor, artistic sensitivity and access to rare materials, meant that only the wealthiest patrons could afford such treasures. Today, masterpieces of pietre dure reside in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum and Florence’s own Museo dell’Opificio delle Pietre Dure.
Plaque: 30" high x 38 1/2" wide (76.20 x 97.79 cm)
Framed: 34" high x 42 1/2" wide x 2" deep (86.36 x 107.95 x 5.08 cm)