Gallery 950 - Maiolica

Part of The Robert Lehman Collection

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This gallery houses one of the most celebrated collections of Italian Renaissance maiolica in the world. The heart of the collection dates from the first half of the sixteenth century—the golden age of maiolica—when we begin to find a broader range of colors as well as complex figural compositions that were often based on the works of contemporary painters.

While it is uncertain whether these plates, bowls, and jars were intended for use as tableware or simply to be admired, we know that maiolica services were often commissioned to celebrate special occasions, such as marriages or births. Significant examples include pieces commissioned by Isabella d'Este of Mantua and Pope Julius II, which display the coats of arms of their distinguished patrons.

Discover more about The Robert Lehman Collection