Tile thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Tile

ca. 1543 (made)
Artist/Maker
Durantino, Francesco (maker)
Place of origin
Perugia (made)

An exceptional tiled pavement exhibiting the virtuosity characteristic of mannerist design is known from the Rocca Paolina in Perugia. This massive fortress was built by the decree of Pope Paul III and officially completed in 1543. Surviving tiles from the floor, such as this damaged example, were painted with 'grotesque' ornament set against an intense blue ground. One tile from the floor is dated 1543, in which year it is known that orders for tiles for the building were placed with the workshop of Guido di Merlino in Urbino. It is possible that the maiolica painter Francesco Durantino, may have been involved in their production.


Object details

Categories
Access_to_Images 2003
SCRAN
Object type
Tile
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware, painted
Brief description
PART; C
Dimensions
  • Height: 18.4cm
Style
Renaissance
Object history
Formerly decorating the Rocca Paolina, Perugia.
Production
For information on attribution, see letter from Timothy Wilson in Object File.
Summary
An exceptional tiled pavement exhibiting the virtuosity characteristic of mannerist design is known from the Rocca Paolina in Perugia. This massive fortress was built by the decree of Pope Paul III and officially completed in 1543. Surviving tiles from the floor, such as this damaged example, were painted with 'grotesque' ornament set against an intense blue ground. One tile from the floor is dated 1543, in which year it is known that orders for tiles for the building were placed with the workshop of Guido di Merlino in Urbino. It is possible that the maiolica painter Francesco Durantino, may have been involved in their production.
Bibliographic references
  • Graves, Alun. Tiles and Tilework of Europe. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, fig 3.10 pp53-54.
  • Wilson, T., 'The Maiolica-Painter Francesco Durantino: Mobility and Collaboration in Urbino "istoriato", in: Silvia Glaser (ed), Italienische Fayencen der Renaissance: Ihre Spuren in internationalen Museumssammlungen, Neuremberg (Germanischen Nationalmuseums) 2004, pp. 124-125, fig. 23
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
441-1906

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O88827/tile-durantino-francesco/
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