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Dish

DelineatorProbably Nicola di Gabriele Sbraga, called Nicola da Urbino (Italian, ca. 1480 - ca. 1538)
Decorator Giorgio Andreoli (Italian, 1465? - 1555)
Dateca. 1530
MediumTin-glazed earthenware (maiolica)
DimensionsOverall: 10 3/8 inches (26.35 cm)
Credit LineGift of Robert Lehman
Object number45-55/2
On View
On view
Gallery Location
  • 111
DescriptionPlate with figure of Saint Christopher wading a river, carrying the Christ Child. Church and figures in background. Large trees right foreground.Exhibition History

Decorative arts of the Italian Renaissance, 1400-1600, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan, November 18, 1958-January 4, 1959, no. 112.

Gallery Label
As his service to God, Saint Christopher (ca. 3rd century CE) chose to carry travelers across a raging river.  This dish depicts the saint carrying a child who later identifies himself as Jesus.  To prove his claim, Jesus instructed Saint Christopher to drive his staff into the ground; it miraculously became a palm tree bearing fruit, as shown here in the saint's hand. This refined, figural rendering was probably executed by Nicola da Urbino, a well-known Renaissance maiolica painter. After the colorful design had been fired, the dish was sent to Gubbio, a town famous for its lustre work, where iridescent highlights were applied. 

Provenance
Robert Lehman (1891-1969), New York, by December 1945 [1];


His gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1945.


NOTES:


[1] Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Robert Lehman Papers, box 82, folder 13.


Published References

Detroit Institute of Arts, and Paul L. Grigaut. Decorative arts of the Italian Renaissance, 1400-1600; (the Detroit Institute of Arts [exhibition] November 18, 1958-January 4, 1959) 1958, 56 (repro.).

Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.


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