Plaque thumbnail 1
Plaque thumbnail 2
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On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Plaque

14/07/1501 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This famous relief panel, dated 1501, is the earliest example of Italian lustreware.
By this date the small towns of Deruta and Gubbio in central Italy were both experimenting with lustre. They would become centres of production specialised in this difficult technique, which was attempted elsewhere in Italy, but not with very successful results.
Particularly at Deruta a golden-yellow variety of lustre was widely produced during the first half of the 15th century. Wares were simply decorated with blue, with some areas left blank for the application of lustre after the second firing.
The same decoration is visible on this panel, also painted with touched of red lustre, used more rarely at Deruta.
This piece was probably hanged in a home or small chapel and used for private devotion; Saint Sebastian was particularly venerated during the Renaissance as thought to protect against the plague.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue with lustre decoration
Brief description
Lustred plaque moulded with a figure of Saint Sebastian; probably made in Deruta, Italy, dated 1501
Physical description
Plaque with depiction in relief with Saint Sebastian.
Dimensions
  • Height: 51cm
  • Width: 19cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
ADI 14 DE LUGLIO 1501
Translation
Anno Domini 14th of July 1501
Object history
Purchased, Delange, Paris for 12 l.
Production
Possibly made in Gubbio
Subject depicted
Summary
This famous relief panel, dated 1501, is the earliest example of Italian lustreware.
By this date the small towns of Deruta and Gubbio in central Italy were both experimenting with lustre. They would become centres of production specialised in this difficult technique, which was attempted elsewhere in Italy, but not with very successful results.
Particularly at Deruta a golden-yellow variety of lustre was widely produced during the first half of the 15th century. Wares were simply decorated with blue, with some areas left blank for the application of lustre after the second firing.
The same decoration is visible on this panel, also painted with touched of red lustre, used more rarely at Deruta.
This piece was probably hanged in a home or small chapel and used for private devotion; Saint Sebastian was particularly venerated during the Renaissance as thought to protect against the plague.
Other number
437 - Rackham (1977)
Collection
Accession number
2601-1856

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Record createdNovember 10, 2005
Record URL
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