Plate
Category
Ceramics
Date
circa 1535
Materials
earthenware, tin-opacifed lead glaze, polychrome pigments
Measurements
267 mm (Diameter)
Order this imageCollection
Knightshayes Court, Devon
NT 540414
Summary
Dish, earthenware with tin-glaze (maiolica), possibly the workshop of Guido Durantino, Urbino, Italy, c. 1535; painted with a scene from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Aesculapius (Asclepius) and Jove: a god-like figure hurls lightning bolts at a seated figure with a coiled serpent at his feet, the underside with subject inscription, ‘L’altitonate Giove Sdegnato contra Eusculapio co ardente fulmine l’ocide’ [Trans. Thundering from on high, Jove angry against Aesculapius throws lightning bolts to kill him]. Formerly attributed to Francesco Xanto Avelli.
Full description
Aesculapius (Asclepius), the Greek god of Healing, was the son of Apollo and the nymph, Coronis. While pregnant with Aesculapius, Coronis secretly took a second mortal lover and was caught and killed, but her child was rescued by Apollo. Aesculapius was taught about medicine and healing by the wise centaur, Chiron, and became so skilled in it that he succeeded in bringing one of his patients back from the dead. Zeus felt that the immortality of the Gods was threatened and killed the healer with a thunderbolt. At Apollo's request, Aesculapius was placed among the stars as Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer. Maiolica was decorated with both pictorial compositions and abstract designs. Istoriato, or ‘story painted’ ware, included stories from classical mythology (Ovid’s Metamorphoses), epic poems (Virgil’s Aeneid), historical dramas (Livy’s History of Rome) and biblical scenes. Engraved individually issued prints, such as those by Marcantonio Raimondi (1475/80-1534) after Raphael, provided design sources. Many dishes were dated and signed by the craftsman, such as the famous Francesco Xanto Avelli of Rovigo, working in Urbino between 1530 and 1542 (See NT 540390). Throughout Italy entrepreneurs such as Guido di Merlino (See NT 540387), established pottery workshops and hired skilled craftsmen to prepare, throw, paint and fire this ware. Only a few, such as Xanto, signed their work, the vast majority are the work of unidentified craftsmen. The maiolica was given by Joyce, Lady Heathcoat-Amory (1901-1997), née Wethered, a celebrated golfer.
Marks and inscriptions
'L'altitonate Giore Sdegnato contra Eusculapio co ardente fulmine l'ocide' on the back