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Unknown Maker, Italian

Bella Donna Plate
Now On View

Maker

Unknown Maker, Italian

Culture

Italian

Title

Bella Donna Plate

Year

1500-1550

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

tin-glazed earthenware

Geography

Place Made: Gubbio; Place Made: Italy

Dimensions

Diameter: 23.2 cm (9 1/8 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mr. Robert Lehman

Object Number

57.302

Type

Exhibition History

European Galleries
Sep 02, 2017

Label copy

This plate is distinguished by its rich decoration and depiction of beautiful women (belle donne). During the Renaissance, bella donna plates like this played a significant role in Italian courtship practices. Given as engagement gifts to remind the betrothed of her duties, they featured representations of beauty and virtue, and included inscriptions referring to the woman’s character.

Image use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use.

Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Italian
Bella Donna Plate, 1500-1550
Earthenware with tin glaze and enamels
Diameter: 23.2 cm (9 1/8 inches)
Gift of Mr. Robert Lehman 57.302

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