Quarter of veal, vase of artichokes, cabbages, lard, rolls and Neapolitan ziti

This still life is one of the works originally chosen by Hackert to decorate the West Entrance Hall of the Royal Apartment.

After the exile in Palermo, the painting returned to Carditello, where it was placed in the same room. In 1880, the latter was transformed into the Entrance Hall of the Royal Apartment, where the painting remained until 1924, when it became part of the collections of the Royal Palace of Caserta.

Like its pendant, the painting depicts another hypothetical corner of King Charles of Bourbon's table, on which are displayed: a quarter of veal, a vase with artichokes, cabbages, a piece of lard lying on grape leaves, a basket with soft rolls and a pack of fragrant Neapolitan ziti (a kind of pasta).

From the 15th century onwards, the artichoke became one of the symbols of Naples, where it was introduced by the Arabs under the name “karshùf”, hence the Neapolitan “carcioffola”. It is no coincidence that it appears in the city at the center of the fountain which acts as a junction between Via Toledo, the Royal Palace of Naples, the Chiaia district, and the Marina.