Italian, Central Italy
Vitrine (Teca), mid 18th century
Painted and gilded wood, glass, 103.5 x 57 x 29 cm (40 3/4 x 22 7/16 x 11 7/16 in.)
Rectangular shaped vitrine that is decorated with an elaborate gold colored foliage rising up with increasingly rich scrolls, as well as gold lilies which frame the arched glass door. A cherub appears in the undulating pediment, and the inner frame of the glazed door is carved with gold scrolls and foliage. All of the relief carving is gilded, the wood in the front of the vitrine is painted pale blue, and the spandrels and side panels are painted with brilliant tones of blue in imitation of azure. The interior is painted red, and Isabella Stewart Gardner installed the top of a bishop's crozier inside.
Blue Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.