Plate for Renaissance choir stalls, 16th century.

Plate for Renaissance choir stalls, 16th century.
"Temperance".
Walnut carved.
Provenance: Mrs. Lina Vanrell Inglada, Madrid private collection 1990s.
Measurements: 48 x 42 x 6 cm.

In this allegorical panel, Temperance is represented as a beautiful woman pouring the contents of a gallon jug into a circular bowl. Because of its format and size, it is very likely that it was part of the stalo or seat of a choir stalls. These are organized in two levels for the two categories of clergy: the high chairs are for the canons and the low ones for the titulars (those who have an ecclesiastical title). The clothes, the way the face is treated and the perfectly clear and orderly composition suggest that they belong to the Renaissance period.

The furniture of the Italian Renaissance enjoyed a development comparable to the rest of its artistic manifestations. Craftsmen spent a minimum of ten years as apprentices before being considered sufficiently qualified to become masters. Although late Gothic style furniture predominates in central and northern Europe almost until the first half of the 16th century, the Renaissance style, born in Italy, soon spread throughout the European courts. It completely changed the concept of decoration and affirmed the idea of the house as a "residence" and furniture became a fundamental element of the stately home. A majestic type of furniture took shape, of elegant classical proportions and built with refined wisdom. In the decorative theme, architectural elements such as columns, plinths, pilasters, balustrades, mirrors, moldings, carved motifs and bas-reliefs began to be used. The wood most used by the craftsmen of the XV and XVI centuries for the construction of quality furniture is walnut.