Plate with Horatio at the Bridge c. 1535

This 16th-century Italian maiolica plate, created by the Urbino Potteries, depicts the iconic scene of the Roman general, Horatius Cocles, defending the Pons Sublicius bridge against the Etruscan army. The scene is depicted with vibrant colors and details, including the soldiers' armor and the swirling water below the bridge. The plate's decorative rim and its inclusion in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection attest to its artistic merit and historical significance as a piece of Italian Renaissance decorative art.