Wooden tray and arte povera - The Marche, Italy early 18th century

This beautiful wooden tray was made in the early 18th century in the Marche region of Italy. Very curved in shape, this tray was originally intended to be used as a tabletop. In addition to a pretty frieze composing the edge of the central tray, this tray is enriched with arte povera, a decorative technique that can be compared to a "paper marquetry". This method, which originated in Venice, spread throughout Europe during the 18th century. The tray has the inscription "N°2" at the bottom right of the composition.

On this set, stands out on a blue sky painted and not in arte povera, a gallant scene in sepia monochrome. In a bucolic setting characteristic of the enthusiasm for nature in the 18th century, there are some houses and a staircase on the right, a group of putti playing on the left and finally in the centre two couples and a herd of sheep.


The eye is drawn to the couple at the heart of the composition, whose man wears a red garment, the only coloured touch of the scene. They seem to reject the intruders who surprised them, the other couple, who are shepherds who came to collect their animals.