Panel (part of a set)

Nicolas Castille

ca. 1510 · Carved oak · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The panels’ decorations, which include putti holding heraldic shields or strings of beads, floral scrolls, masks, and fabulous creatures, correspond to French adaptations of Italian motifs derived from prints and other sources. The portraits represent the donor, Georges d’Amboise (1460–1510), in his cardinal’s hat and cloak and Louis XII (1462–1515; ruled 1498–1515) surrounded by a wreath topped by a porcupine, a symbol of the monarch’s courage and ability to defend his kingdom. These panels and the ones displayed nearby are from the now-destroyed chapel of Cardinal d’Amboise’s château de Gaillon.

Artist

Nicolas Castille

Date

ca. 1510

Medium

Carved oak

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Bequest of George Blumenthal, 1941