Oval Dish with the Whore of Babylon c. 1570

Martial Courteys made this enameled earthenware dish in France, sometime in the 16th century. The artist built up layers of colored enamels, using a technique that allowed for incredible detail. The result is a startlingly vivid scene depicting the Whore of Babylon riding a fantastic beast, with admirers looking on. Courteys has taken an allegorical subject, and made it palpably real. This dish exemplifies a complex relationship between art and industry. It was made for a wealthy patron, someone who appreciated the skill involved in creating such a detailed object. But this was also a period of increasing industrialization, and ceramics like this were becoming more widely available, so they also reflect changing patterns of consumption. Ultimately, the dish reminds us of the power of craft to bring stories to life. Courteys used his mastery of materials to create a lasting image that still speaks to us today.