Italian, Venice
Armchair (Poltrona), 1770-1779
Painted and gilded walnut, 91.3 x 61 x 52 cm (35 15/16 x 24 x 20 1/2 in.)
This is a painted and gilded open-sided walnut armchair. The center of the seat back and seat are upholstered in a light blue fabric with a brocaded floral design. The wood framing the upholstery on the seat back is painted with a floral design on a light green background outlined with a delicate strip of gold. This is repeated on the arms and legs. The seat is a trapezoidal shape, being wider at the front than the back. At the crest of the seat back there is a small carved fan with foliage. A small gold head in profile, facing our right, can be found on the vertical apron of the seat. The armrests end in a tight spiral, while the four curved legs meet the floor at a bulbous foot.
Veronese 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.