Console table 1777 - 1797

Editor: This delicately carved Console Table, dating from around 1777 to 1797 and created by Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo, really strikes me with its incredibly ornate detailing. The Rococo style is clear. What stories do you think this table could tell us? Curator: This piece presents an interesting perspective on the performative aspects of wealth and power during the late 18th century. Consider the abundance of ornamentation - the birds, foliage, the gilded details. All serve to project an image of affluence, but at what cost? It’s important to remember this kind of artistry relies on patronage from the aristocracy, an aristocracy increasingly detached from the realities faced by the majority of the population. What statement do you think the artist is making through these motifs? Is it purely celebratory? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the social commentary that might be implicit. It feels less like direct criticism, and more like a mirror reflecting the values, or perhaps the excesses, of the time. It's easy to be seduced by its beauty. Curator: Precisely. The beauty acts as a kind of lure. Look closer; does the piece subtly expose a disconnect, a fragility, even, inherent in that kind of lavish display during a time of social unrest and upheaval leading up to the French revolution? Who benefits from such elaborate craftsmanship, and at whose expense? Editor: So, even a decorative object like this can be seen as participating in a larger socio-political narrative, reflecting tensions between the elite and the common people of the time. It seems naive to see it purely for its beauty. Curator: Absolutely. And understanding that context, seeing the layers of meaning embedded within the piece, only enriches our experience and challenges our preconceptions about art's role in society. It's about encouraging critical thinking, pushing beyond surface appearances to uncover the complex realities of the past and their resonances in the present. Editor: This has really opened my eyes. I’ll definitely approach decorative arts with a new perspective now.