The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (United Kingdom)
[DATABASE SCENES RECORD 16]
This piece is showing parts of two registers of a viticulture scene. Only the lower part of the upper register is preserved. At the left hand are the remains of a scene of treading grapes. Still visible are the legs of one of the men treading inside the vat, together with traces indicating the original existence of another figure to the left. The legs are slightly bent and one foot is shown higher than the other, so as to represent the action of treading. At the right is the bottom of a vertical pole. Between the pole and the right leg of the man still visible are some indistinct shapes, which seem most likely to be some bunches of grapes protruding out of the treading vat. To the right of this are the lower parts of the figures of three men walking from the vineyard towards the press. The second man wears a knee-length kilt, and holds in his left hand a bag behind him. The third figure is similarly dressed and holds a bag before him. At the left of the lower register is the end of a vineyard with grape bunches supported on poles with forked ends and then angling towards the ground. From the vines hang bunches of grapes: four, perhaps five, are still visible in this scene. Below the lowest bunch is the arm of a man picking the grapes. Underneath his hand is the upper part of a small container in which he places the grapes, three bunches of which protrude from the top. The right hand part of the scene shows the grapes being carried away. Above the root of the vine one reads "bringing wine". It is evident that grapes are meant, although the term for finished product is used. The grapes are carried away by three men, all dressed in short kilts and short wigs. The left arm of the first man (from the left) is raised to support the front of a trapezoidal basket carried on his shoulder. The objects it contains are the same shape as those hanging from the vine, and so must be grapes. In his right hand behind his body he holds a bag, presumably containing further grapes. Between him and the second man, one reads the word "gardener". The second man's left arm is also raised to support a basket of grapes. With his right hand, he holds a bag of grapes before his legs. The third man holds up a basket similar to the first one, but shorter. He does not support it on his shoulder, but rather balances it on his left hand. His right arm hangs behind him holding a bag of grapes.