Panel
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Carved walnut
Dimensions
14 1/2 × 34 1/2 in. (36.8 × 87.6 cm)
Classification
Woodwork
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
Accession Number
32.100.338a
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite carved walnut panel, hailing from 16th-century France, exemplifies the masterful woodwork of the European Renaissance. Measuring 14½ × 34½ inches, it features intricate carvings, notably expressive faces that capture the era's fascination with human emotion and grotesque motifs. Walnut, prized for its fine grain and rich tonal variations, was a favored medium for such decorative pieces, allowing sculptors to achieve remarkable depth and detail through relief techniques. Crafted during a time when France's decorative arts flourished under royal patronage, this panel likely adorn...