Italian, Venice
Sofa (Sofà), about 1780
Painted and varnished walnut, 92.3 x 209 x 68 cm (36 5/16 x 82 5/16 x 26 3/4 in.)
This sofa is made of painted and varnished walnut. It is upholstered with a light blue fabric that alternates between moiré and satin stripes. A long sofa cushion with the same upholstery is on the sofa. The frame of the sofa is edged with a carved, painted gold beaded outline. The top of the backrest has a carved decoration with flowers and vines. The flowers and vines join together in the middle of the back of the sofa and form a bow, which is mirrored on the seat frame. The sofa has eight short, fluted legs that are painted blue, but the paint is chipping, revealing green underneath.
Little Salon
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.