Mantel
Unknown Artist
last quarter 15th century
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
Overall: 132 × 65 in. (335.3 × 165.1 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Architectural
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George Blumenthal, 1941
Accession Number
41.190.486
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of late 15th-century Renaissance Italy with this striking limestone mantel, a masterpiece of architectural sculpture crafted by an unknown artist during the final quarter of the 1400s. Measuring an imposing 132 × 65 inches (335.3 × 165.1 cm), this grand fireplace surround would have anchored the hearth of a noble palace or villa, serving as both functional architecture and a canvas for artistic expression. Carved from durable limestone—a favored medium in Italy for its workability and weather resistance—the piece exemplifies the era's blend of utility and grandeur. ...