Drug jar
- Place of origin:
Pesaro, Italy (probably, made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Medieval and Renaissance, room 10, case 2
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This jar is an example of the type called an albarello. Inscriptions on many examples show that they were particularly used in spice stores and hospital pharmacies. The depictions of religious subjects on these and other maiolica wares served as devotional prompts enabling the layman to participate more directly in religious life, one of the foremost spiritual aspirations of the Renaissance.
The popularity of Saint Francis of Assisi (ca 1182-1226) stemmed from his devotion to prayer, poverty, repentance and obedience. During a period of illness, after a failed military campaign of the Assisians against Perugia, Francis's mind had begun to turn towards God. Some time later, following a series of dreams, St Francis renounced his life as a wealthy merchant's son and chose to follow the example of Christ, living among the poor and destitute. Towards the end of his life St Francis received the Stigmata, the physical wounds of Christ's Crucifixion.
The image of St Francis receiving the Stigmata on this drug-jar served to prompt the beholder to recall both the illness of St Francis, his subsequent commitment to the religious life, and the sufferings of Christ.
Physical description
Drug jar, albarello, painted in dark blue, yellow, deep orange, copper green and dark manganese purple.
Place of Origin
Pesaro, Italy (probably, made)
Date
ca. 1480 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware
Dimensions
Height: 25.8 cm, Diameter: 19.5 cm, Weight: 2.46 kg
Object history note
Damiron Sale Sotheby's 16th June 1938, lot 36
Historical significance: The popularity of Saint Francis of Assisi (ca 1182-1226) stemmed from his devotion to prayer, poverty, repentance and obedience. During a period of illness, after a failed military campaign of the Assisians against Perugia, Francis's mind had begun to turn towards God. Some time later, following a series of dreams, St Francis renounced his life as a wealthy merchant's son and chose to follow the example of Christ, living among the poor and destitute. Towards the end of his life St Francis received the Stigmata, the physical wounds of Christ's Crucifixion.
The image of St Francis receiving the Stigmata on this drug-jar served to prompt the beholder to recall both the illness of St Francis, his subsequent commitment to the religious life, and the sufferings of Christ.
Historical context note
This jar is an example of the type called an albarello. Inscriptions on many examples show that they were particularly used in spice stores and hospital pharmacies. The depictions of religious subjects on these and other maiolica wares served as devotional prompts enabling the layman to participate more directly in religious life, one of the foremost spiritual aspirations of the Renaissance.
Descriptive line
Drug jar, St. Francis receiving the stigmata and gothic foliage, probably made in Pesaro, ca 1480
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Berardi, P.L’antica maiolica di Pesaro: Dal XIV al XVII secolo, Florence 1984 Cora, G., Storia della maiolica di Firenze e del contado: Secoli xiv e xv, Florence 1973 Rackham B., Italian Maiolica, London, Faber &Faber, 1952
Subjects depicted
St. Francis
Categories
Ceramics
Collection code
CER
