Late 15th - early 16th century

Casket with Scenes from Roman History, Views of a City, and Sailing Ships

Artist/maker unknown

This small, intricately decorated Italian box bears reliefs of scenes from Ancient Roman history, made in a material known as pastiglia, a plasterlike material that can be shaped or molded into raised decoration and which may have been mixed with perfume to give off a scent when handled. Over one hundred and fifty boxes of this type are known, believed to be the product of workshops located in Northern Italy.

Among the detailed reliefs shown here are narrative panels referencing Horatii and Curiatii, a battle between two groups of triplets, and the story of Lucretia, a virtuous wife whose murder played a part in ending the monarchy and the creation of the Roman republic. This choice of scenes reflect the influence of surviving Ancient Roman monuments and the interest of Renaissance patrons in motifs and stories taken from antiquity.