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ROLLTOP DESK BY JOSE CANOPS
Louis XV period - Madrid, circa 1765-1770
H: 48 in ; W: 66 in ; D: 33 in.
Provenance :
- Commissioned by king Carlos III for the Palacio Real, Madrid.
- Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, 1st. Bt. (1778-1859), the celebrated financier and philanthropist.
- Thence by descent.
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The inlaid fleur-de-lys on the top indicate a Royal provenance. This magnificent bureau was executed circa 1765-1770 by the Flemish cabinet-maker José Canops in the Royal Spanish workshops in Madrid.
Its impressive proportions and sophisticated marquetry scheme demonstrate the Spanish court style developed by Carlos III, which is most clearly evident in the Palacio Real in Madrid.
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The Palacio Real was completely destroyed by fire in 1734 and rebuilt by Philip V. His successor, King Carlos III, embarked on several ambitious building projects for the Palace with 2800 rooms. Carlos III moved in 1764 and brought numerous renowned artists to Spain such as Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) and Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779).
Two other recorded cylinder bureaux, which were executed by Canops for the Palacio Real circa 1765-1770, are closely related to our bureau in construction, shape and decoration.
One of these was part of the furnishings of the exotic Gabinetes and is inlaid with lacquer panels depicting flowers within foliate and trellis marquetry. The legs have distinctive open oval scrolling angles, which are very similar to those on the present bureau. Furthermore, there are striking construction similarities, the most significant being the dark open-grained mahogany used in the carcase.
The marquetry decoration of the second bureau is particularly close to that of our bureau, and incorporates similar meandering inlays to the cylinder and floral cartouches framed by scrolls. Even closer parallels can be seen in the execution of the musical trophies which appear on the top of the second bureau and on the sides and back of the present piece.
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