Aeneas and his Companions on the Coast of Carthage: C.85-1961

Current Location: Gallery 7 (Courtauld)

Titles

Aeneas and his Companions on the Coast of Carthage

Maker(s)

Painter: Nicola di Gabriele Sbraghe da Urbino (Possibly)
Painter: Milan Marsyas Painter (Possibly)

Entities

Plate

Description

Maiolica plate, painted in polychrome with Aeneas and his Companions on the Coast of Carthage.

Buff earthenware, tin-glazed overall; the reverse is pale beige, and has six small flaws. Painted blue, green, turquoise, yellow, orange, stone, brown, manganese, black, and white. Shape approximately 52, with three shallow concentric grooves under the outer edge. Circular with a wide, slightly sloping rim and shallow well.
Aeneas and his Companions on the Coast of Carthage. Aeneas, accompanied by Achates, stands on the left addressing his three comrades, who stand on the right beside a tree. A zephyr's head peers through a bank of clouds in the sky above them. In the foreground there is a shallow rock and grass; in the middle, the prows of two black ships and a headland; and in the distance, a building on a promontory. The edge is yellow. The back is inscribed in the middle in dark greenish-black: `AeVlus inmittit/Ventos iunone/precante' (Aeolus sends out the winds at Juno's command), enclosed by a yellow band. A narrow and a wide band encircle the edge.

Notes

History note: Ralph Bernal; Christie's, 23 March 1855, Catalogue of the celebrated collection of works of art from the Byzantine period to that of Louis Seize of that distinguished collector, Ralph Bernal, Esq., deceased, lot 1973; Andrew Fountaine IV (1808-73); his heir; Christie's, 16 June 1884, Catalogue of the celebrated Fountaine collection of majolika, Henry II ware, Palissy ware, Nevers ware, Limoges enamels . . ., removed from Narford Hall, Norfolk, lot 21; Murray Marks; Sir Francis Oppenheimer, KCMG; Sotheby's, 19 December 1941, Catalogue of Oriental and European ceramics, enamels and works of art . . . the property of Sir Francis Oppenheimer, KCMG, lot 45; Louis C.G. Clarke (1881-1960).

Legal notes

L.C.G. Clarke Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 27.9 cm
Height: 2.8 cm

Place(s) associated

Urbino ⪼ The Marches ⪼ Italy

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1961-04-27) by Clarke, Louis Colville Gray

Dating

16th Century, second quarter#
Renaissance
Production date: circa AD 1530

School or Style

Renaissance

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colours ( blue, green, turquoise, yellow, orange, stone, brown, manganese, black, and white)

Materials used in production

Tin-glaze
Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Moulding : Buff earthenware, tin-glazed overall; the reverse is pale beige, and has six small flaws. Painted blue, green, turquoise, yellow, orange, stone, brown, manganese, black, and white.
Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

Text: AeVlus inmittit/Ventos iunone/precante
Location: On the back
Method of creation: Painted in dark greenish-black
Type: Inscription

Text: 'af' and '53'
Method of creation: Incised
Type: Mark

Inscription present: rectangular

Text: 21 A FLAT URBINO PLATE, five figures apparently invoking Aeolus for/the success of their voyage, background water with prows of two black boats, description on the back - 10 7/8 in./No. 1973 of the Bernal Collection.
Method of creation: Printed
Type: Label

Inscription present: rectangular with blue printed border

Text: Collection Fount (aine)/? 6.6.84
Method of creation: Inscribed in ink
Type: Label

Inscription present: rectangular

Text: 53
Method of creation: Printed
Type: Label

Inscription present: rectangular

Text: 2...at Urbino plate five figures invoking Aeolus, sea/background and boats 10 7/8 in (this No. 1973 in the Ber/nal sale, bringing £12.10s., and Mr. Fountaine the pur/chaser, a very beautiful plate in perfect and brilliant con/dition - £60.18s. (Marks)
Method of creation: Printed
Type: Label