Dish with battle scene 1535 - 1550

This is an anonymous maiolica dish depicting a battle scene. It resides here at the Met. The colorful scene, alive with the clash of men and horses, reveals the codes of conflict and heroism esteemed in its time. Made in Italy, probably during the Renaissance, this dish reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity and its social investment in warfare. Italian city-states were regularly at war. Noble families and their courts were the main consumers of these luxury items, which became an important form of cultural patronage. Dishes like these were likely displayed during feasts and banquets. They showed off the owner's wealth, taste, and social status. Art history provides the tools to see how the piece fits into a larger pattern of social and institutional dynamics. Through careful archival research, one can uncover more about the cultural and economic forces shaping its production and reception.