Bowl with Saint Roch 1525 - 1545

Curator: The vibrancy of this piece is immediately striking. It seems almost jewel-like, the colours are just beaming off it! Editor: Indeed! This is a maiolica bowl, crafted between 1525 and 1545, and attributed to Maestro Giorgio Andreoli. Notice how the artist employed the lusterware technique typical of Italian Renaissance ceramics? This bowl offers insight into the intersection of art, religion, and public health during the period. Curator: And the figure at the center? Is that Saint Sebastian? The arrow in the background is intriguing. Editor: Actually, that's Saint Roch. Look at the sore on his leg, exposed as a mark of his suffering from the plague. Roch was a patron saint of plague victims, and bowls like these had a ritualistic function. Eating from such a piece could be seen as an act of devotion, a prayer for protection from the devastating outbreaks. Curator: So, it’s not just decorative but actively implicated in social practices, a symbol of resilience during crises? It makes the bowl more than just a craft object; it's imbued with cultural and historical meaning. Editor: Precisely. Observe how the artist integrated hagiography within the decorative vocabulary of the time. It is not simple realism, the symmetry is striking. Consider also the patronage; who would commission such a work, and what social strata were susceptible to plague? Curator: And to circle back to what I originally found captivating, those metallic lustres were Giorgio’s specialty! They add an alchemical layer—a transformation of base materials into something precious, a reflection of hope perhaps. Editor: In terms of pure artistic execution, I would also call attention to the refined detailing that defines this ceramic, this "Bowl with Saint Roch". The balance Giorgio achieved between form, colour, and historical weight are still impressive today. Curator: Yes, looking at it, one can feel the hopes, the fears, and the creative spirit of a turbulent age. Editor: A tangible link to a very human past.