Workshop of Orazio Fontana or Antonio Patanazzi
1560–70
Urbino, Italy
Tin-glazed earthenware
Diameter: 27 cm
This dish is a painting in miniature, with an exceptional variety of colour, expressive figures, beautifully rendered textures and a dramatic crowd scene. On the back, angels hover in and out of clouds, carrying symbols of Christ’s Passion (Death and Resurrection).
Courtauld insight
‘The religious imagery of this superb dish would have appealed to its nineteenth-century owner Thomas Gambier Parry (1816–1888). A devout Christian, Gambier Parry was a discerning collector whose love of beauty was intertwined with a longing for sacred encounter. This artwork speaks to his unwavering belief that great religious art connects the soul to God.
Devon Abts, Assistant Director of The Henry Luce III Center for Arts & Religion, Washington DC (former Courtauld Gallery intern)