Gentile, Antonio ( 1519-1609 )
A Roman goldsmith who produced perhaps the most
remarkable silver binding that has come down from
the Renaissance. The cover, which protects an
equally distinguished Renaissance manuscript, the
Book of Hours , written by the scribe
Francesco Monterchi, and illuminated by Giulio
Clovio, for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, consists
of wooden boards covered with parcel gilt silver
that is very delicately worked in low relief and
openwork. Each cover has a frame of foliage in
relief against a pierced ground which is
interrupted at intervals by masks, with
fleurs-de-lis in the corners. The panel is divided
into four sections filled with male and female
figures whose bodies terminate in curving foliage.
In the center a large oval depicts the annunciate
angel on the upper cover and the Virgin Mary on
the lower, both in relief. The spine of the
binding is covered with a plate of silver
decorated with foliate designs in low relief
between four double raised bands. The doublures of
silver are engraved with Farnese arms and the
names of Cardinals Allesandro and Odoardo Farnese.
(347 )
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