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Inkstand with Apollo and the Muses

Workshop of the Patanazzi family Italian
1584
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 503
This extravagant desk set celebrates the art of poetry while providing a writer with storage for the tools of his craft. The exterior decorations evoke ancient Roman art and honor the divine sources of creativity. Gods and muses perch beside famous poets atop an elaborate confection of drawers and removable containers, including inkwells and a sand-shaker (for drying fresh text). Inside, the compartments are decorated with images denoting their contents, such as scissors and quills.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Inkstand with Apollo and the Muses
  • Maker: Workshop of the Patanazzi family (Italian, active ca. 1580–1620)
  • Maker: Probably after Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) (Italian, Urbino 1483–1520 Rome)
  • Date: 1584
  • Culture: Italian, Urbino
  • Medium: Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
  • Dimensions: Overall: 19 × 20 1/2 × 14 7/8 in. (48.3 × 52.1 × 37.8 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Pottery
  • Credit Line: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.100.363a–f
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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Plate, Patanazzi family Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Urbino
Plate
Patanazzi family
ca. 1600
Dish with The Woman of Sestos and the Eagle and arms of the Pucci family, Fra Xanto Avelli da Rovigo, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Urbino
Dish with The Woman of Sestos and the Eagle and arms of the Pucci family
Fra Xanto Avelli da Rovigo
1532
Wine cooler with A Pageant Battle with Elephants, Fontana family Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Urbino
Wine cooler with A Pageant Battle with Elephants
Fontana family
ca. 1562–75
Bowl with The Virgin and the Unicorn and arms of Matthias Corvinus and Beatrice of Aragon, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Pesaro
Bowl with The Virgin and the Unicorn and arms of Matthias Corvinus and Beatrice of Aragon
Italian, Pesaro
probably ca. 1486–88
Madonna and Child with Scroll, Luca della Robbia Italian, Glazed terracotta, Italian, Florence
Madonna and Child with Scroll
Luca della Robbia
ca. 1455

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