ANTEPENDIUM
Polychrome scagliola
A splendid example of the art of scagliola, which originated in Carpi in the early 17th century, our antependium consists of two concentric frames with black and white ornamentation.
The graffito design of the outer frame is richly worked with naturalistic motifs, such as floral inserts and whirls of leaves in soft colours. Enclosed within, we observe whirls of leaves, flowers and insertions of polychrome birds with a type of composition that focuses attention on the centre of the antependium. Although the decoration is faint, a graffito-worked coat of arms can be seen.
Made in Bologna or Romagna, late 17th century, early 18th century
cm 217×91
