Cistern
Original title: Cistern
kurzbeschreibung
Made around 1550 or later, this cistern by Marcantonio Raimondi is worked in maiolica, that is, tin-glazed earthenware. Painted decoration on the inside of the vessel shows two female figures in a landscape.
Description
Two female figures inhabit the bowl's interior, set within an idyllic stretch of countryside. One sits on a rock and gazes into the distance; the other lies beside her, also looking out. Trees, a small tower and a house step back through the scene. Blue, green, orange and red give it lively colour. Two greenish handles, recalling leaves or tendrils, are set inverted around the bowl.
Context
The Italian engraver Marcantonio Raimondi, a Renaissance artist, was known above all for his reproductions after works by Raphael. This cistern dates from the mid-sixteenth century, when maiolica was held in high esteem in Italy. Figures in landscapes ranked among the common motifs of Renaissance ceramics and often drew on antique as well as contemporary models. Nothing is recorded about the precise circumstances of its making or its patron.
Impact
Strong colours and a balanced arrangement lend the cistern a calm yet decorative presence. Its idyllic landscape and figures invite contemplative looking.
Technique
The object was made of maiolica, an earthenware with a tin-oxide glaze. The smooth surface and careful application of colour are typical of this technique. The painting was laid onto the still-wet glaze and then fired, which fixed the colours permanently.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)