Armorial Plate: Silenus on an ass, supported by Bacchic revelers 1517 - 1528

This circular plate, crafted by Italian artist Nicola da Urbino between 1517 and 1528, depicts Silenus, the drunken, jovial tutor of Bacchus, riding on a donkey, surrounded by a group of revelers. The plate, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases the artist's mastery of colorful, detailed depictions of the Bacchic myth in the Renaissance style, utilizing the maiolica technique, a type of tin-glazed pottery that was popular in Italy during this period. The composition captures the lively, often raucous nature of the Bacchic festivals, emphasizing the themes of revelry and excess.