This 18th-century bureau, veneered in walnut with marquetry in various woods and ivory, is a valuable example of Venetian craftsmanship of the era. The decorative apparatus is highly intricate, composed of elegant acanthus scrolling, foliage, and flowers, amongst which pairs of birds and butterflies made of ivory flutter and perch; on the facade of the three drawers, fantastic winged dragon figures made of wood are hidden. The drop-down front of the bureau, which houses two small drawers and a door inside, features an external medallion depicting the famous biblical scene from the Gospel of John, the Samaritan woman meeting Jesus at the well. The woman offers him something to drink from her jug, and in return, the Messiah bestows upon her the "living water," a symbol of eternal life. A similar subject could suggest the commission of the piece by a wealthy devotee, whose discernment is evident both in the choice of materials and the rarity of the depicted scene.
Bibliography: - De Marchi, "Mobili e Intarsi: La storia del mobile veneziano". Venice, 2010, Edizioni del Canguro.
- Tosi, "Intarsio e Mobili Veneziani: Tecniche e Stili". Venice, 2012, Fondazione Musei Civici.
