Creator

Manno Sbarri

Creation-date

1548-1561

Technique

Embossing; chiselling; carving

Material

Gilded silver, rock cristal, enamel, lapis lazuli

Inventory number

Inv. AM 10507

Subject-1

Goldsmithing

Object-Current-Location

Naples, Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte

Digital resource author

GrECI Project

Digital-resource-rights holder

University of Oslo (for GrECI project)

Image-number

037a_Id_12

License

CC BY

Description

This elaborate coffin was commissioned by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese and is notable for its rich iconographic programme and numerous Greek and Latin inscriptions. Three Greek inscriptions show mottoes of the Farnese, namely "Lily of Justice", emblem of Paul III; "Strike like this", inspired by Hom., Il. 21.282 to symbolise Farnese's ability to get to the heart of things; and "We have sailed beyond", invented by the Cardinal's former secretary, Annibal Caro, on the model of Orphic Argonautics (vv. 733, 1271). The allusion to this text, which was widely circulated in humanist Italy, shows Caro's erudite taste.