Covered bowl c. 1749 - 1760

This anonymous covered bowl sits on a matching plate, both made from glazed earthenware. This piece draws on a long history of ceramics made in imitation of organic forms, specifically fruits and vegetables, common throughout Europe from the Renaissance onward. This kind of production was particularly associated with the workshop of Bernard Palissy, the 16th-century French potter. Palissy and his followers broke with the classicism of the Italian Renaissance, embracing naturalism. The production of ceramics like this one speaks to the establishment of European art institutions. Academies and schools encouraged the use of classical forms but were often faced with the popular appeal of the natural world. Further research into the context of this piece might explore how the hierarchies of art were constructed through debates about the value of different subjects and styles.