Pharmacy jar (albarello) 1537 - 1547

This is a Pharmacy jar, or Albarello, made of tin-glazed earthenware in France by Masséot Abaquesne in the mid-16th century. During this period, European art and culture saw the rise of Renaissance humanism. We can see this influence in the jar’s decoration: the classical-style portrait of a woman. She is depicted with a serene expression and adorned with a laurel wreath, symbolizing wisdom and status. It’s important to consider the cultural context: objects like this jar tell us stories about gender, class, and social status. While Renaissance art often celebrated the male form, this jar presents a female figure in a position of prominence. Was this an intentional statement about the role of women, or simply a reflection of the tastes of the time? What does it tell us about the people who owned and used it? These kinds of objects offer a glimpse into a society's values and beliefs, inviting us to reflect on the stories they tell and the questions they provoke.