Italian
Pair of Cabinets, early 19th century
Mahogany and marble, 118.7 x 63.2 x 45.7 cm (46 3/4 x 24 7/8 x 18 in.)
Short Gallery
Commentary
While attending finishing school in Paris during the 1850s, Isabella Stewart Gardner was captivated by French literature, culture, and history. Of particular note is her interest in the former French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. This pair of cabinets piqued Isabella's interest when she came across them in a sales catalog being advertised as once belonging to Napoleon during his exile on the island of Elba. Although this provenance has never been confirmed, Isabella purchased them in 1880, and added them to the Short Gallery where she kept several other Napoleon-related souvenirs.