Panel
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Carved oak
Dimensions
12 3/4 × 16 1/2 in. (32.4 × 41.9 cm)
Classification
Woodwork
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1916
Accession Number
16.32.129
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite carved oak panel, created by an unknown French artist in 16th century, the ornate woodwork of the Renaissance era. Measuring a modest 12¾ × 16½ inches, it features delicate motifs of birds and Cupid the playful god of love, rendered in intricate relief carving. Oak, prized for its durability and fine grain, was a favored medium for such panels, allowing artisans to achieve remarkable depth and texture through chiseling and gouging techniques. In 16th-century France, the height of the Renaissance, decorative woodwork like this adorned the interiors of châteaux, furniture, and wa...