The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Saint Jerome in the Wilderness

Art Object

The Roentgens' Rolltop Desk

Watch as this desk's hidden features are revealed.

The richly embellished surface of this rolltop desk conceals a wealth of mechanical surprises and features, including a spectacular arrangement of almost forty compartments and drawers. Abraham (1711–1793) and David Roentgen (1743–1807) designed this table not just for writing and reading but also to function as a dressing table, or poudreuse.

This table, from Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in Washington, D.C., is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

Learn more about this object: http://trio.hillwoodmuseum.org/detail.php?t=objects&type=related&kv=13072

Footage courtesy of Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens.

Video/Audio (4)

David Roentgen: Long-Case Clock
(00:00:52)

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10613 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16640 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3015 views

Saint Jerome in the Wilderness

Probably by Antonio Rossellino (Italian, Settignano 1427–ca. 1479 Florence)

Date:: ca. 1470
Culture:: Italian, Florence
Medium:: Marble
Dimensions:: Overall (confirmed): H. 16 5/8 x W. 15 1/4 x D. 2 7/8 in., 31lb. (42.2 x 38.7 x 7.3 cm, 14.0615kg)
Classification:: Sculpture
Credit Line:: Purchase, Rogers Fund and Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2001
Accession Number:: 2001.593

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 500

Provenance

[ Stefano Bardini , Florence (until 1918; Bardini sale, American Art Galleries, New York, April 23–27, 1918, no. 420; to Freund); Karl Freund (1918–d. 1956) ; Luigi Bellini ; Carlo de Carlo ; by descent, the heirs of Carlo de Carlo ; [ Eredi Carlo de Carlo sale, Franco Semenzato and Comapany , Casa d'Aste, Florence, April 19, 2001, no. 115 ] ; [ Salander O'Reilly Galleries , New York, 2001; sold to MMA ]
See also
Who
Antonio Rossellino (9)
What
Sculpture (24,350)

Reliefs (3,153)

Marble (2,128)
Where
Europe (148,586)

Italy (20,983)

Tuscany (1,162)

Florence (506)
When
A.D. 1400-1600 (20,545)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Florence and Central Italy, 1400–1600 A.D.
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Probably by Antonio Rossellino (Italian, Settignano 1427–ca. 1479 Florence)

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The Roentgens' Rolltop Desk

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Saint Jerome in the Wilderness

Probably by Antonio Rossellino (Italian, Settignano 1427–ca. 1479 Florence)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store