Snuffbox

A rectangular box decorated on all sides. The decoration consists of scattered letters, envelopes, a book, a sheet of music, and fragmentary inscriptions, with the exception of the clearly legible words: “Catilina, tragédie, 1740.” Crébillon’s drama Catilina, tragédie was first performed in Paris in 1748. The imagery alludes to private life, politics, and literature alike, but contains few concrete references, making it difficult to interpret.

Provenance

San Marco-Nákó collection