Pair of mirrored double doors 1738 - 1749

Curator: This magnificent example of Baroque craftsmanship is a pair of mirrored double doors created by Lorenzo de Ferrari between 1738 and 1749. Editor: My initial reaction is one of overwhelming opulence. The gilded carvings against the dark mirrored background create such a sense of drama, almost theatrical. It's a feast for the eyes. Curator: Absolutely. Ferrari's work here really exemplifies the Baroque love for elaborate ornamentation. But these doors are more than just decoration; they’re a testament to the societal values of the period. Commissioned for an aristocratic family in Genoa, they represented wealth, power and social status. Editor: And how interesting to think about what the imagery might have communicated to people moving through that domestic space. What do you make of the prominent figures of mythical beings? Curator: The figures of winged sphinxes and mermen were highly fashionable and reflected the humanist values in Genoa that aligned itself with republican Rome by alluding to Roman port cities in Africa. Winged figures connect those merchants and political leaders with ideas of immortality. Editor: These symbols weren't just decorative but acted as visible affirmations of power. The abundance of gold speaks to colonial conquest, in this way the space produces a sense of exclusivity. Curator: Indeed. These weren’t merely functional doors; they functioned as status symbols and promoted Genoa’s self-fashioned myths about the nobility’s origins. They visually reinforced a particular social order for those who encountered them, both within and outside the household. The family’s values of tradition, legacy and power are materialized in the elaborate relief work. Editor: These doors provide a fascinating window – no pun intended – into understanding both art and the socio-political history. Thanks to pieces like this, we can really think about not just aesthetic values but the ways these aesthetics enforced ideologies. Curator: Exactly! And studying such craftsmanship reminds us how material objects mediate culture and politics.