ticketsMember | Make a donation

Armorial Plate: Silenus on an ass, supported by Bacchic revelers

ca. 1520–25
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 950
In Renaissance Italy, fine maiolica was often associated with the relaxed yet elegant atmosphere of the country estate, where hospitality was generally overseen by women. This plate belongs to a service commissioned by Eleonora Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino, as a gift for her mother, Isabella d’Este, Marchioness of Mantua. On all the known pieces, Isabella's arms are joined with those of her husband, Gianfrancesco Gonzaga. The arms are frequently accompanied by mottoes and heraldic or personal badges belonging to Isabella or her husband. Twenty-one pieces of the service survive, all decorated by the greatest maiolica painter of the sixteenth century, Nicola da Urbino. Intended for use at Isabella’s rural villa, the dishes are decorated with scenes of revelry (such as this drunken Silenus), a theme well-suited to countryside entertaining. Bacchic revelers support Silenus, who is too drunk to walk or sit unaided on a donkey. The composition is based on an engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi after a design by Raphael.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Armorial Plate: Silenus on an ass, supported by Bacchic revelers
  • Artist: Nicola da Urbino (Italian, active by 1520–died ?1537/38 Urbino) or Castel Durante
  • Date: ca. 1520–25
  • Medium: Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
  • Dimensions: Diameter: 10 13/16 in. (27.5 cm)
    Mount: 3 in. × 6 in. × 11 5/16 in. (7.6 × 15.2 × 28.7 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Pottery
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.1020
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Armorial Plate (tondino): The story of King Midas, Nicola da Urbino Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Armorial Plate (tondino): The story of King Midas
Nicola da Urbino
ca. 1520–25
Large Dish (tagliere): Pope Leo X presenting a baton to Federigo II Gonzaga, marquis of Mantua, on his appointment as captain general of the Church in 1521., Nicola da Urbino Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Large Dish (tagliere): Pope Leo X presenting a baton to Federigo II Gonzaga, marquis of Mantua, on his appointment as captain general of the Church in 1521.
Nicola da Urbino
ca. 1525–30
Plate (one of a pair), Nicola da Urbino Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Castel Durante
Plate (one of a pair)
Nicola da Urbino
ca. 1525 or later
Plate (piatto): The story of Aeneas, Francesco Xanto Avelli da Rovigo Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Plate (piatto): The story of Aeneas
Francesco Xanto Avelli da Rovigo
1532
Armorial dish: Supper at the House of Simon the Pharisee, Maestro Giorgio Andreoli Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Armorial dish: Supper at the House of Simon the Pharisee
Maestro Giorgio Andreoli
1528

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.