The Conquest of Naples by Charles of Durazzo

About this artwork

The Master of Charles of Durazzo, a Florentine artist working around 1381-82, created this elaborate tempera and gilt cassone (chest) front recounting the military triumph of Charles III of Durazzo over Otto of Brunswick in 1381. The 19⅜ by 50¾ inch panel presents three episodes in continuous narrative: at right, the armies clash in battle; center, Otto's troops surrender; at left, victorious forces enter conquered Naples. This decorative and didactic work exemplifies Italian Gothic painting's c...

Art Historical Context

Step into the thrilling world of late 14th-century Florence with *The Conquest of Naples by of Durazzo*, a tempera on wood panel by the anonymous Master of Charles of Durazzo around1381–82. This elaborate cassone (marriage chest) front vividly recounts the real-life military triumph of Charles III ofazzo over Otto of Brunswick 1381. In a continuous narrative across its 19⅜ × 50¾-inch surface, we see the chaos of clashing armies and rearing horses at right, the dramatic surrender of Otto's troops in the center, and the victorious entry into Naples at left—complete with kings, flags, and men in period armor. Painted in the refined International Gothic style, the work dazzles with bright colors, intricate details, and embossed gilt ornaments that elevate it from mere decoration to a luxurious status symbol. Cassoni like this were prized wedding gifts in Renaissance Italy, blending historical propaganda with domestic elegance to celebrate dynastic prowess and civic virtue. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1906 through the Rogers Fund, this panel not only preserves a pivotal moment in Neapolitan history but also reveals how art intertwined politics, warfare, and everyday life in medieval Italy, making it a captivating window into the era's splendor.