The Cassollette: Women Supporting an Urn (c. 1520–27): Art, History and Details

The Cassollette: Women Supporting an Urn (c. 1520–27) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection. The museum's creator attribution is Marco Dente (Italian, c. 1486–1527); Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, 1470/82–1527/34).

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

Prints helped disseminate design ideas and establish a taste for decorative objects and styles, especially when endorsed with royal insignia. Adapted from Greek architecture, two caryatids—draped female figures used as pillars—hold aloft an ornamental incense burner designed by Raphael about 1515–20 for King François I (reigned 1515–1547). The lily-shaped fleurs-de-lis on its lid allude to the French monarchy. The salamanders adorning the side of the vessel specifically refer to François I, who chose this amphibian as his personal emblem. According to legend, salamanders could survive fire, making them even more meaningful on a burner.

Object facts

• Title: The Cassollette: Women Supporting an Urn
• Date: c. 1520–27
• Creator attribution: Marco Dente (Italian, c. 1486–1527); Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, 1470/82–1527/34)
• Culture: Italy
• Type: Print
• Technique: engraving
• Collection: PR - Engraving
• Department: Prints
• Accession number: 1925.1231

Collection credit

Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.