Dish (piatto)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite *Dish (piatto)*, created by Francesco Xanto Av da Rovigo in Gubbio in 1532, exemplifies the Renaissance mastery of maiolica—tin-glazed earthenware allowed for brilliant, jewel-like colors and intricate designs. Measuring just over 10 inches in diameter this shallow plate from the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art features depictions of women and female nudes, a nod to the era's fascination with classical mythology and the human form. Avelli, a prolific painter active in central Italy's maiolica workshops, was renowned for his *istoriato* style—narrative...