ABSTRACT
This huge, ornate Dutch carved cupboard – or beeldenkast – in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, is dated 1622. It is an early and extremely fine example of the large storage cupboards that became popular in the Netherlands and as exports later in the seventeenth century. It has a profusion of decorative and pictorial imagery, including hunting scenes, and six large sculpted female personifications of Virtues as caryatid figures (taking the place of a supporting column or pillar) with six scenes from the biblical story of Joseph on the cupboard fronts. In addition the ornament includes smaller representations of the Four Evangelists, David playing his harp and Samson and Delilah, all incorporating tiny inscriptions, which suggests the need for close viewing. The cupboard makes a grand statement through its scale (243.8 cm x 210.8 cm x 88.9 cm), fashionable decoration, quality of carving and level of detail; it is an extremely high-status piece of furniture.
