Footed Bowl
c. 1490
Medium
Blue glass, enamel, and gilding
Dimensions
16.5 × 20.8 cm (6 1/2 × 8 3/16 in.)
Classification
bowl
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
179970
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This footed bowl was intended to make a luxurious statement in late fifteenth-century Italy. Brilliant blue glass, meant to replicate the color of sapphires, was a specialty of Venetian glass blowers. The finely painted enameled decoration—cherubs and fantastical sphinxes—as well as the classical shape of the vessel, reflects the Italian Renaissance admiration for art and design of ancient Rome. Such bowls were used only for special occasions such as weddings or celebratory feasts. This example...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...