A very important and fine antique tortoiseshell and yellow metal musical snuffbox, with hidden erotic pictorial enamel of Venus Urbino, after Titian.

French

Circa 1825

After Venus of Urbino by Titian, executed in 1538,

Our reclining Venus accompanied by music,

Playing two musical airs, from key-wind cylinder movement serial number 1079, with 17-part bass-left sectional comb with teeth in groups of four, under smoked horn cover, hidden painted enamel study of Venus reclining on silk dressed bed in green draped interior, oval rose chased gilt metal frame, finished to tortoiseshell ground with high-tone mother-of-pearl floral swag spandrels, hinged to fit inside the main lid, in plain tortoiseshell case with slight domed lid, further gilt metal rose chased thumb grip to lid front, start/stop and change/repeat mother-of-pearl buttons to front, plain underside with access to winding spindle.

3.7/8in. wide, 3.1/8in. deep, 1.7/8in. high - (9.8 x 8 x 2.8cm)

Point of interest -

Titian undertook his masterpiece, Venus of Urbino in 1538 and this currently hangs in the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence.  The subtle differences include his version with kneeling and standing figures at the window, Venus seen as older and some minor decoration changes, but the pose remains identical.  Titian actually based his study on the earlier original work by Giorgione titled simply Sleeping Venus, painted in circa 1510. 

Then much later in 1862, the famous French impressionest, Manet, started work on his version, based mostly on Titian's study entitled Olympia - executed is his trademark hand and splendid use of colour.

It is interesting to note the continued interest in Giorgione's work, most noteably because only the finest artists decided to untertake their own versions, but it is a great shame this study is not signed, as it makes Venus version number four.

Nevertheless, fine hidden erotic picture boxes were very risque at the time and highly collectable today. - especially ones which are musical.