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An amber Madonna returns to Portugal
- 1. Italy, probably Rome, c. 1640-1650
Virgin and Child, in its early 19th century frame
Amber, lapis lazuli, ormolu - 31.5 cm
Lisbon, Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, Museu do Tesouro Real
Photo: Guillaume Benoit - See the image in its page
4/3/24 - Acquisition - Lisbon, Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, Museu do Tesouro Real - Most often worked on the cold shores of the Baltic Sea, the amber that enchanted connoisseurs in the autumn (see article) was bound to excite the interest of museum curators too. There were all kinds of desirable objects in the Kugel gallery’s exhibition, but one of them seemed destined to return to its native land, as this probably Roman relief (ill. 1) had a recent Lusitanian history and joined the collections of Lisbon’s Museu do Tesouro Real. Set in…