French School Gallery

The Astrolabe and The Zelee arrive at Noukahiva, 19th century (colour litho)

LSE4098121 The Astrolabe and The Zelee arrive at Noukahiva, 19th century (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; (add.info.: Astrolabe (originally called Coquille) was a converted horse barge used as an exploration ship by the French Navy and, most famously, for her travels under Jules Dumont d'Urville. Here the two ships are shown entering the port of Noukahiva (Nuku Hiva) in the Marquesa Islands, French Polynesia during Dumont D'Urville's Antarctica expedition (1837-40).); Photo A© Leonard de Selva; French, out of copyright

© © Leonard de Selva / Bridgeman Images

Titania the Queen of Fees flies with her changelin child on the back

GIA4708817 Titania the Queen of Fees flies with her changelin child on the back. Illustration by Arthur RACKHAM (1867-1939) for The Dream of a Summer Night by William SHAKESPEARE, 1908 (A Midsummer Night's Dream) by Rackham, Arthur (1867-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: Titania the Queen of Fees flies with her changelin child on the back. Illustration by Arthur RACKHAM (1867-1939) for The Dream of a Summer Night by William SHAKESPEARE, 1908 (A Midsummer Night's Dream) Private collection); A© Giancarlo Costa; English, out of copyright

© © Giancarlo Costa / Bridgeman Images

Wooden and gilded pastiglia reliquary box (mixed media)

6166398 Wooden and gilded pastiglia reliquary box (mixed media) by French School, (13th century); Diocesan Museum, Duomo Monreale, Sicily, Italy; (add.info.: It contained part of the mortal remains of St. Louis IX, and it was kept inside the marble sarcophagus dedicated to the King of France for centuries and located in the right nave of the Cathedral of Monreale. The box, originally perhaps a wedding box or a wedding gift, was probably made by French workers of the thirteenth century The work is decorated with female figures, plant elements and eagles, while the corners are marked by metal sections in gilded, embossed and chiseled copper, decorated with repeated geometric motifs.

Duomo di Monreale, Museo Diocesano: cofanetto reliquiario in legno e pastiglia dorata. Gia contenente parte delle spoglie mortali di San Luigi IX, fu per secoli custodito all'interno del sarcofago in marmo dedicato al re di Francia e ubicato nella navata destra della Cattedrale di Monreale. Il cofanetto, in origine forse cofanetto nuziale o dono di nozze, fu verosimilmente realizzato da maestranze francesi del XIII secolo. L'opera e decorata da figure muliebri, elementi vegetali e aquile, mentre gli angoli sono marcati da sezioni metalliche in rame dorato, sbalzato e cesellato, ornate da motivi geometrici ripetuti); Ghigo Roli

© Ghigo Roli / Bridgeman Images