Andrea Mantegna

Paola Gonzaga was the youngest daughter of Ludovico II, Marquis of Mantua, and his wife, Barbara of Brandenburg, who employed the famous Renaissance artist, Andrea Mantegna, at their court. As befitted her high social status, Paola had a magnificent trousseau for her marriage which was stored in elaborately decorated cassoni (bridal or marriage chests). Almost all parts of these cassoni are still extant, and today they are housed in Klagenfurt, Millstadt and Graz. They document the level of refinement in craftsmanship at the Upper Italian courts during the 15th century.