Dish with Diana and the stag 1600 - 1750

This is a "Dish with Diana and the Stag" (1600-1750) by Bernard Palissy (1510-1590), currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Palissy was a French potter famous for his "rustic ware", which featured naturalistic, three-dimensional forms. This dish depicts the Roman goddess Diana, the huntress, with her bow and arrow, surrounded by dogs and a stag, all rendered in remarkable detail. The piece is a striking example of Palissy's innovative use of ceramic glazes and his meticulous observation of nature.