Saltcellar
Pierre Reymond
(French, 1513–after 1584)
Dateca. 1545
MediumLimoges; enamel on copper, parcel-gilt
DimensionsH.: 2 13/16 (7.1 cm); diam.: 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of Alexis Gregory, 2021
Accession number2021.4.02
CommentaryThe body of this saltcellar depicts two scenes: Venus seated on a chariot drawn by four doves and four figures standing near a column. The first image derives from a Marcantonio Raimondi (ca. 1480–1534) engraving made after a design by Raphael that illustrates episodes from the first book of Virgil's Aeneid. The second one may illustrate the episode in the same book in which Dido, the Queen of Carthage, receives Aeneas. On the neck is a French inscription painted in gold—1545 PRENE EN GRE (Accept this willingly)—which likely refers to a poem from the Cent Ballades (Hundred Ballads) written by Christine de Pisan (1364–ca. 1430). A male portrait in the antique
style is in the receptacle.
Max von Goldschmidt-Rothschild (1843–1940), Frankfurt; by descent to his heirs and estate; Goldschmidt Collection sale, Parke-Bernet, New York, March 10–11, 1950 (lot 64?); Jan Dirven Gallery, Antwerp, purchased by Alexis Gregory, 1999; Gift to The Frick Collection, 2021
