Large dish with scale border; in the center, the Madonna and Child
c. 1500/1535
Medium
tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica)
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 45.5 cm (17 15/16 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Widener Collection
Accession Number
1942.9.325
Art Historical Context
This stunning large dish from Deruta, Italy, dating to around 1500–1535, exemplifies the Renaissance mastery of maiolica—a tin-glazed earthenware prized its brilliant colors and glossy finish. Measuring nearly 18 inches in diameter, the piece features a distinctive scale-patterned border framing a central depiction of the Madonna and Child a beloved motif in Christian art symbolizing maternal tenderness and divine love. Produced in Deruta's renowned workshops in Umbria, such dishes were not just functional serving ware but also status symbols for affluent households, blending everyday utility ...