Is this kettle by Alessi?
This is a kettle designed by John Gordon Rideout around 1940 and manufactured by Wagner Manufacturing Company.
Then maybe Alessi copied it...I have the kettle almost like this but smaller!
It does look ahead of it's time, doesn't it?
Yes, it really does!
What is the Neo-Assyrian period? Why is it found in the ancient Egypt section of the museum?
The Neo Assyrian period refers to the third time the Kings of Assur created an empire out of their neighbors, the first two are referred as the Old and Middle Assyrian periods, repsectively. The Assyran people originated in the city of Assur which during this period expanded its borders beyond Mesopotamia to include the Levant, Anatolia, and even Egypt.
The gallery that you are in right now is actually called The Hagop Kevorkian Gallery for Near Eastern art, which is why pieces from several different Near Eastern cultures appear.
The term “Near East” refers to the vast expanse of land extending from the eastern Mediterranean coast to central Asia so it's actually right next Egypt in reality as well.
For these death masks, did they paint the deceased the way they looked when they died or was it when they looked their "best," i.e when they were younger?
Based on analysis of mummies with these kinds of portraits it seems that sometimes the paintings showed people at their age at death and some showed them younger. There is also some evidence that some portraits were painted when the person was younger, hung in the home, and later reused for the mummy when the person died.
I know Kara Walker has (had?) a larger piece at the MFA Boston. Does she work in both large and small scale?
Yes! Her wall-scale silhouettes are her more famous works, but she has also produced much smaller drawings and works like this "play set."
Got it!
And they are always the black and white silhouettes?
She was been working more lately in other styles and media, but the silhouettes are definitely her "signature" work. It's really interesting, the way she has taken a technique that was so popular in the 19th century and reinterpreted it. These pieces of laser cut steel, of course, mimic cut paper silhouettes.
The idea that runs through her work is the stereotyping of black identity and black history in the United States.
Very signature indeed! The second I walked by this glass case I knew it was her. Thanks!
So explain Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was a charismatic Puritan who spread her own interpretation of the bible, which went against the strict doctrine of governing ministers. She was eventually convicted of heresy and excommunicated.
Her plate is based on 18th century mourning imagery. The plate represents both the type of shawl worn by a grieving woman as well as a death shroud.
What is the significance of Christ's hand position? He's holding a bird and his left thumb in his right hand.
In Renaissance religious painting, the bird often shown in the Christ child's hands is a European Goldfinch. It can symbolize soul, resurrection, sacrifice, and death. The goldfinch took on an even deeper meaning after the Plagues of the 14th century as a symbol of healing and redemption.
It was often a popular pet for children at the time, because of its beautiful plumage which included red feathers around its beak. Another reason for it's association with Christ Child was the legend that it acquired its red spot as it flew down over the head of Christ on the road to Calvary.
As it drew a thorn from his brow, it was splashed with a drop of the Savior's blood. So many associations to explore!
Awesome. Thank you!
I would like to know more about this piece.
This sideboard was used to display dishes and as a serving table in a dining room. The plants and animals carved in wood suggest the abundance of nature and man's command of it. Some of these items, such as the hare and grapes, might have appeared in the dishes being served to diners!
Why are there two tables in this room?
The Dining Hall was the site where the homeowners would entertain with "routs," or afternoon parties with liquor and refreshments. The multiple tables could have been employed to accommodate their many guests, as well as act as serving places for the wines and sweets that the hosts would have offered.
Would you happen to know what the Latin in the bottom right corner translates to, or if there was ever a full translation?
Here is the full inscription translated from Spanish: "The Lady Mariana Belsunse y Salasar. Born in Lima legitimate wife of Coronol Agustín de Landaburrú y Rivera"
Are there any other pieces that have the figure reaching out of the frame as is done here?
I don't believe any of the other portraits from our European collection show the subject reaching out of the frame as is done here, but the artist was known for it and it was not a an uncommon practice at the time.
It was a direct response to the preceding artificial style of Mannerism, which privileged style over content. Instead of a foreshortened figure, Hals has extended his sitter's hand beyond the frame to invite us into the portrait. This also served as demonstration of artist’s skill at depicting depth.
Good to know, thanks again!
