Tomb stone of Antonio and Caterina Maggi da Bassano

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This intricately crafted frame was part of a majestic tomb situated at the floor level of San Pietro delle Monache Benedettine in Padua. The names of Antonio and Catharina Maggi da Bassano, a renowned jurist and his wife, are prominently displayed on the imitation pavement in the upper curve of the frame. It is challenging to pinpoint the original location of the tomb, but Salamonio's description suggests that it was situated near the high altar. The tomb's original placement near the high altar, its size, and the elaborate inscription underscore Antonio Maggi's prestige as alderman of various towns in the Veneto region, all listed on the inscription. By commissioning this distinctive round marker, lawyer Antonio Maggi da Bassano deviated from traditional rectangular tomb slabs. The books, serpent, parchment rolls, and inkwell symbolize the scholar, while the hourglass and candlesnuffer remind us of fleeting time and serve as symbols of mortality. The peach with one leaf was a characteristic attribute of Truth, and the pine cone represented Virtue. The empty space in the center may have once held an engraved brass panel that provided access to the tomb. Gallery location: Medieval & Renaissance Room 50a, The Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery, case FS, shelf FLOOR Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London