Votive plaque
Medium
tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica)
Dimensions
overall (height by diameter): 1.8 × 34.7 cm (11/16 × 13 11/16 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (William A. Clark Collection)
Accession Number
2014.136.331
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Votive plaque* from Deruta, Italy, dated 1505, exemplifies early Renaissance mastery of maiolica—tin-glazed earthenware that revolutionized ceramic art. Crafted in the vibrant workshops of Deruta, a Umbrian center renowned for its pottery since the 14th century, the plaque measures a modest 1.8 × 34.7 cm, suggesting it was designed to be affixed to a church wall or shrine. The tin glaze provided a smooth, opaque white ground ideal for bold colors and intricate designs, transforming everyday earthenware into luminous, jewel-like objects prized across Europe. Votive plaques like...