What Renaissance decorative inlay is composed of marble and semiprecious stones inlaid in wood?

• A. Pietra dura
• B. Intarsia
• C. Boulle work
• D. Damascene

Answer: (A)

This question tests the Renaissance technique of inlay known as pietra dura. Pietra dura involves cutting and fitting colored hardstones—marble-like stones such as lapis lazuli, malachite, jasper, carnelian, and agate—into a contrasting background to form intricate patterns or pictures. The result is a jewel-like mosaic surface, often used on tabletops, panels, and furniture in Renaissance Italy, especially Florence. This method is distinct from intarsia, which is wood inlay on a wooden substrate (often using different woods and sometimes other materials); from Boulle work, which pairs tortoiseshell with brass; and from Damascene, which inlays metal within metal. Therefore, pietra dura best fits the description of marble and semiprecious stones inlaid into a surface.