Dish
1535-38 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This impressive dish is one of the best examples of the late style of the talented maiolica painter Nicola da Urbino, who was head of a workshop in the town up until his death around 1538.
This dish was part of a prestigious commission, made for, or given to, a member of the Gonzaga family; it bears the device of Federigo II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua.
The device, representing Mount Olympus with the motto Fides (Loyalty), was granted to the Marquis by the Emperor Charles V in 1523 for his defence of Pavia in 1522. It is found frequently in the decoration of Gonzaga palaces, for example at Palazzo Te in Mantua.
The scene represented on the plate is the Rape of Helen and is adapted from a composition known to us from a print by Enea Vico dated 1542. Given that Nicola and the Duke Federigo had died before this date, the artist must have worked from an earlier, now lost, version.
A second plate, probably from the same set and also painted by Nicola, survives in the Museum Correr in Venice.
This dish was part of a prestigious commission, made for, or given to, a member of the Gonzaga family; it bears the device of Federigo II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua.
The device, representing Mount Olympus with the motto Fides (Loyalty), was granted to the Marquis by the Emperor Charles V in 1523 for his defence of Pavia in 1522. It is found frequently in the decoration of Gonzaga palaces, for example at Palazzo Te in Mantua.
The scene represented on the plate is the Rape of Helen and is adapted from a composition known to us from a print by Enea Vico dated 1542. Given that Nicola and the Duke Federigo had died before this date, the artist must have worked from an earlier, now lost, version.
A second plate, probably from the same set and also painted by Nicola, survives in the Museum Correr in Venice.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tin-glazed earthenware painted with colours |
| Brief description | Dish depicting the Rape of Helen, painted by Nicola da Urbino, Italy, about 1535-38 |
| Physical description | Dish depicting the Rape of Helen. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Chome paris rapi Elena al tenpio (Written in black on the reverse)
|
| Gallery label | Dish with the Abduction of Helen of Troy
Italy, Urbino, about 1533
Painted by Nicola da Urbino
The design is after an engraving by Enea Vico.
The dish was made for Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
Tin-glazed earthenware
C.2246-1910 Salting Bequest(12/10/2008) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by George Salting, Esq. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This impressive dish is one of the best examples of the late style of the talented maiolica painter Nicola da Urbino, who was head of a workshop in the town up until his death around 1538. This dish was part of a prestigious commission, made for, or given to, a member of the Gonzaga family; it bears the device of Federigo II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua. The device, representing Mount Olympus with the motto Fides (Loyalty), was granted to the Marquis by the Emperor Charles V in 1523 for his defence of Pavia in 1522. It is found frequently in the decoration of Gonzaga palaces, for example at Palazzo Te in Mantua. The scene represented on the plate is the Rape of Helen and is adapted from a composition known to us from a print by Enea Vico dated 1542. Given that Nicola and the Duke Federigo had died before this date, the artist must have worked from an earlier, now lost, version. A second plate, probably from the same set and also painted by Nicola, survives in the Museum Correr in Venice. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 575 - Rackham (1977) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.2246-1910 |
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| Record created | July 16, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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