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Italian, Gubbio Italy

Bella Donna Plate, 1500-1550

Now On View

Description

Maker

  • Unknown

Culture

Italian

Title

Bella Donna Plate

Year

1500-1550

Medium

Earthenware with tin glaze and enamels

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • tin-glazed earthenware

Dimensions

Diameter: 23.2 cm (9 1/8 inches)

Place

Gubbio; Italy

Type

  • Ceramics

Credit

Gift of Mr. Robert Lehman

Object Number

57.302

About

This small bella donna (beautiful woman) plate is distinguished by blue, yellow, and ruby luster glazes. Its broad rim is decorated with molded gadroons, radiating pinwheel-fashion, and separated by floral and foliate forms. The central figure’s long hair, ointment jar, and halo identify her as Saint Mary Magdalene, a symbol of the virtue of humility. As was common during the Renaissance, she is depicted with blond hair, an indication of contemporary fashion and beauty.

Gubbio; Italy
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Exhibition History

Exhibition History

European Galleries

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.

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Bella Donna Plate with the accession number of 57.302. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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