Artwork
Book Cover
Book Cover is a tempera painting. It dates from 1343 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1343 by a Sienese artist, this tempera-on-panel painting functions as a book cover depicting a human figure engaged in the acts of reading and writing. The iconography explicitly includes representations of money alongside these scholarly activities, suggesting a thematic connection between intellectual pursuit and financial matters or commerce. The work, now held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, utilizes these specific visual elements to symbolize the intersection of literacy and economic life in fourteenth-century Siena.
The composition centers on the individual interacting with texts and currency, establishing a narrative where the act of writing or reading is inextricably linked to monetary value or transaction.
Technique & Style
Its formal style follows early‑fourteenth‑century Italian conventions, employing a flat spatial arrangement and linear outlines typical of tempera technique.
The Book Cover dating to 1343 is executed in tempera on a wooden panel, measuring roughly 41 × 24.8 cm. It belongs to the corpus of Sienese painting and is classified as a painting. The work depicts a human figure engaged in reading and writing, alongside symbols of money, reflecting contemporary economic themes. The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, where it is preserved as a panel painting.
Its formal style follows early‑fourteenth‑century Italian conventions, employing a flat spatial arrangement and linear outlines typical of tempera technique.
History & Provenance
Created in 1343, the work known as Book Cover is a tempera painting executed on panel by an Italian artist from Siena. The piece measures 41 centimeters in height and 24.8 centimeters in width. It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is housed and displayed.
The artwork depicts human figures engaged in activities such as reading and writing, alongside representations of money. While the specific commissioning patron and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation is firmly dated to the mid-fourteenth century within the Sienese artistic tradition.
Overview
This tempera painting, titled "Book Cover," depicts a scene with three figures gathered around a table. Executed on wood, it features a woman holding coins and two men intently examining an open book. The artwork's surface shows signs of age, with faded colors and worn areas, particularly visible in the decorative elements and Latin inscription at the top and bottom. This piece offers a glimpse into historical artistic practices and thematic concerns.
Context
As a painted book cover, this object served a dual purpose: protecting the pages within and visually signifying the importance or content of the volume. Such decorated covers were common for significant manuscripts or ledgers, often reflecting the owner's status or the book's subject matter. The Latin inscription, though uneven, would have identified the book's title or dedication, further integrating the cover's artistry with its functional and intellectual role.
Artist & collection
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