Scenes from the Life of King Nebuchadnezzar

Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona was a painter from the Marches region of Italy who created this elaborate panel depicting scenes from the life of King Nebuchadnezzar in 1467. The panel's embossed and gilt ornament demonstrates the elaborate decorative techniques used in Italian Renaissance furniture painting. The Babylonian king's story, from the Book of Daniel, offered dramatic subjects of pride, madness, and divine justice.

The tempera on wood with embossed and gilt ornament combines narrative painting with three-dimensional decorative effects. The raised gesso decoration and gold tooling create a richly textured surface that enhances the painting's status as a luxury object.