Dish (coppa): The satyr Silenus on an Ass 1527 - 1538

This ceramic dish, dating from 16th-century Italy, depicts the drunken satyr Silenus riding an ass, surrounded by his entourage. Dishes like these weren't mere tableware. They were display pieces, signifiers of wealth and cultural sophistication for their owners. The imagery, drawn from classical mythology, reflects the Renaissance fascination with antiquity. Silenus, often associated with drunkenness and revelry, was a popular subject. This dish speaks to the values of the time. We might ask, was this celebration of classical themes and drunken revelry a challenge to the more austere norms of the church? Was it a self-consciously progressive statement? Or was it simply a fashionable display of wealth and learning for a privileged elite? To truly understand this dish, we'd need to delve into inventories of the period, examine patterns of patronage, and consider the social and political context in which it was made. Only then can we begin to grasp its full significance.