Collection of Applied Arts

with trompe-l’œil decoration

A rectangular box decorated on all sides. The decoration consists of scattered letters, envelopes, a book, a sheet of music, and fragmentary inscriptions, with the exception of the clearly legible words: “Catilina, tragédie, 1740.” Crébillon’s drama Catilina, tragédie was first performed in Paris in 1748. The imagery alludes to private life, politics, and literature alike, but contains few concrete references, making it difficult to interpret.