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Table Cabinet with Scenes from the Life of David

Peter Opel (German, ca. 1549-1619) (Cabinetmaker)

c. 1602-1612 (Renaissance)

pine, boxwood, steel, gilded steel, copper alloy (brass?), gilded brass, silk, paper
(Renaissance Europe , Textiles and Furniture )

This cabinet with its 21 compartments (some hidden) is a marvel of woodcarving and a celebration of intricacy. Architectural elements and ornamental detailing frame narrative compositions, organized into a lattice of ordered compartments. Forty-eight scenes relate the Old Testament story of David, "prophet and king," as a model of virtue. The significance of each scene is distilled by a Latin motto, for example the death of David (inside of the right-hand door), by PIETATIS DEFUNCTIO (a pious death).

The artist Peter Opel of Regensburg proudly inscribed his name on the door to the central compartment and, on the back, carved his self-portrait, dressed as a gentleman but holding a chisel. The chest was designed to hold small treasures and antiquities.

Inscription

[Signature]; [Transcription] PIETATIS DEFUNCTIO; [Translation] a pious death; [Inscription] Exterior of left door: SAVLVS REX ISRA; [Translation] Saul, King of Israel; [Inscription] Exterior of left door: DAVID PROPHET REX; [Translation] David, Prophet and King; [Inscription] Exterior of inner door: VIRTUTIS EXER / CITATISSIMAE PRO / BATUM DEO SPEC / TACULUM, EX DAVID / PASTORIS MILITIS / DUCIS, EXULIS AC / PROPHETAE EXEMPLIS / PETRO. OPELIO. CIVE / RATISBON: SCULPEN; [Translation] A Display of Well-exercised Virtue, Pleasing to God, and Drawn from Examples of David as Shepherd, Soldier, Leader, Exile and Prophet. By Peter Opel, Citizen of Regensburg and Sculptor.

Inscriptions on the interior of the cabinet [1]:
[Inscription] Interior of inner door: IN DEO IEHO / VA SPES MEA; [Translation] In the Lord Jehovah is my Hope; [Inscription] BONA INDOLES RECTE CULTA; [Translation] A Noble Nature Well Cultivated; [Inscription] FIDEI TYROCINIA; [Translation] The Apprenticeship of Faithful Protection; [Inscription] MODESTIA PROBATA; [Translation] A Modesty Found Pleasing; [Inscription] VIRTVS VLTRO INCITATA; [Translation] Valor Steps Forth of its [own] Accord; [Inscription] EXPEDITIO MVNITISSIMA; [Translation] A Most Secure Undertaking; [Inscription] FIDEI VICTORIA; [Translation] The Victory of Faith; [Inscription] PIETATIS TRIVMPHVS; [Translation] The Triumph of Piety; [Inscription] HVMANAR[VM]. OPVM PRAESTANTISSIMAE; [Translation] The Most Excellent of Human Riches; [Inscription] CIRCVMSPECTA VIRTVS; [Translation] Circumspect Fortitude; [Inscription] DELIBERATA SPES; [Translation] An Expectation Fulfilled; [Inscription] VIRTVTIS PRAEMIVM; [Translation] The Reward of Manly Courage; [Inscription] CONIVGII FIDES; [Translation] The Steadfastness of Marriage; [Inscription] AMICITIAE VERAE VSVS; [Translation] The Exercise of True Friendship; [Inscription] PIETATIS PRIVILEGIVM; [Translation] The Just Due of Piety; [Inscription] PRVDENTIAE TVTELA; [Translation] The Safety Afforded by Foresight; [Inscription] PRVDENTIA PIETATIS COMES; [Translation] Prudence, an Ally of Piety; [Inscription] VIRTVTIS VERAE LIBERALITAS; [Translation] The Liberality of True Virtue; [Inscription] FORTITVDO INNOCENS; [Translation] Strength in Restraint; [Inscription] INGRATA AVARITIA; [Translation] Ungrateful Avarice; [Inscription] PRVDENTIA SALVTARIS; [Translation] An Advantageous Prudence; [Inscription] REVERENTIA SOSPITALIS; [Translation] A Protecting Reverence; [Inscription] PIETAS ASSERTRIX; [Translation] Piety as Protector; [Inscription] TEMPERANTIA REGIA; [Translation] Royal Temperance; [Inscription] INGENVVS CANDOR; [Translation] Noble Sincerity; [Inscription] PERSEVERANTIAE FRVCTUS; [Translation] The Fruits of Perseverance; [Inscription] INGENVA HUMANITAS; [Translation] A Noble Benevolence; [Inscription] INTEGRITAS; [Translation] Integrity; [Inscription] CONSTANTIAE EXITVS; [Translation] The Results of Constancy; [Inscription] PIETATIS HILARITAS; [Translation] The Good Cheer of Piety; [Inscription] IMMORTALES FOEDUS; [Translation] An Everlasting Alliance; [Inscription] OTIVM CALAMITOSVM; [Translation] Destructive Pleasure; [Inscription] LIBERA MONITIO; [Translation] Forthright Counsel; [Inscription] VERAE GLORIAE AMPLIFICATIO; [Translation] The Gains of True Glory; [Inscription] INTEMPERANTIAE FRVCTVS; [Translation] The Fruits of Indulgence; [Inscription] NIMIA LENITAS; [Translation] Too Much Leniency; [Inscription] ERRATOTVM EXPVRGATIO; [Translation] The Rooting Out of Wrongdoing; [Inscription] PATERNA CLEMENTIA; [Translation] Paternal Compassion; [Inscription] IMPIETATIS EXITVS; [Translation] The Consequence of Impiety; [Inscription] IVS INVICTVM; [Translation] An Inviolable Law; [Inscription] TEMERITATIS CASVS; [Translation] Downfall Attends Rashness; [Inscription] INIVRIAE PARTVS; [Translation] An Atonement for Wrongs; [Inscription] DIGNITATIS OBSERVATIO; [Translation] The Observance of Due Dignities; [Inscription] GLORIA INSIDIOSA; [Translation] Insidious Glory; [Inscription] HVMANAE GLORIAE EXAMEN; [Translation] The Measure of Human Ambition; [Inscription] CLEMENTIA MEMOR; [Translation] Clemency Comes to Those Mindful of Their Duties; [Inscription] SAPIENS SENECTVS; [Translation] Wise in Old Age; [Inscription] ADVLATIO FALLAX; [Translation] False Adulation; [Inscription] PIETATIS DEFVUNCTIO; [Translation] Performance of Piety; [Inscription] Below Opel’s self portrait: DEO IOHO/ VA SPES MEA; [Translation] In the Lord God Jehovah is my hope.

Inscriptions on the left exterior side of the cabinet:
[Inscription] SATVRNVS; [Inscription] IVPITER; [Inscription] MARS; [Inscription] SOLI; [Translation] abbreviated form of sol invictus [?] Sol/ Helios, the Sun; [Inscription] VENVS; [Inscription] MER; [Translation] abbreviated form of Mercury); [Inscription] LVNA; [Translation] Diana in the guise of Luna, the moon goddess.

[1] See The Journal of the Walters Art Museum 72, p. 71-72 for biblical sources related to these inscriptions.

Provenance

**Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.**

Eugen Felix (through J. and S. Goldschmidt as dealers), Leipzig; sale, J.M Heberle, Cologne, October 25, 1886, no. 1053. Owned by heirs of Eugen Felix, New York; sale, J.P. Silo, New York [1]. Acquired by Julius David Ichenhauser, London; inherited by Mrs. Ichenhauser, London, 1910; sale, Christies, London. Acquired by Arnold Seligman Rey. and Co., New York; purchased by Henry Walters, New York, December 14 1915; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

[1] sold on behalf of his creditors at J.P. Silo, Fifth Avenue

Exhibitions

1998-2001	Highlights from the Collection. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
1971-1972	World of Wonder. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.

Conservation

Date	Description	Narrative
	Examination	Examined
	Examination	Examined

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Geographies

Germany, Regensburg (Place of Origin)

Measurements

H: 28 3/8 x W: 22 11/16 in. (72 x 57.6 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters, 1915

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

65.5

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Table Cabinet with Scenes from the Life of David

Inscription

Provenance

**Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.**

Exhibitions

Conservation

Geographies

Measurements

Credit Line

Location in Museum

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

Do you have additional information?

Hours

Location

Phone

Table Cabinet with Scenes from the Life of David

Inscription

Provenance Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Exhibitions

Conservation

Geographies

Measurements

Credit Line

Location in Museum

Accession Number In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

Do you have additional information?

Provenance

**Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.**

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.