Antonio dei Fedeli
Pesaro, Italy
1493–94
Tin-glazed earthenware
23.5 x 23.5 x 4 cm
This floor tile is a rare example from hundreds commissioned by the Gonzaga, the ruling family of Mantua in northern Italy. They decorated the sumptuous study of the ruler’s young wife, Isabella D’Este, a great collector and supporter of artists. The tiles were paid for by the ruler of Pesaro, in central Italy, in an effort to obtain a political alliance.