Dish with Allegory of Autumn 1650 - 1750

Bernard Palissy crafted this dish with an allegory of Autumn in 16th-century France, using glazed earthenware. The piece presents a male figure carrying a basket, surrounded by symbols of the harvest season. Palissy was a Huguenot, and his personal struggle for survival mirrors the wider religious conflicts engulfing France at the time. The work reflects the influence of classical allegories popular in the Renaissance courts. It also reflects Palissy’s deep engagement with the natural sciences. The imagery of abundance and the celebration of the seasons were often used to convey ideas about social harmony. Palissy's choice of subject matter might reflect his views on social order. Or perhaps he desired patronage from the aristocratic elite. To understand the dish fully, historians might consult period literature, scientific treatises, and records of religious and political events. The meaning of this artwork is contingent on the complex social and institutional context from which it emerged.