Plate with two lovers 1644

This 17th-century tin-glazed earthenware plate, created by Antoine Conrade, features a central scene of two lovers with a lute player in a landscape. The rim of the plate is adorned with a vibrant array of fantastical creatures and scrolling foliage, all rendered in blue, yellow, and ochre hues against a white ground. This “istoriato” style of Italian maiolica, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, employed intricate figurative and landscape scenes to decorate everyday objects. The plate's rich color palette and lively imagery would have added a touch of whimsy and beauty to any table setting.