Plaque with a scene from the Parable of the Prodigal Son c. 1750 - 1775

Curator: Oh, my goodness, look at this thing! It reminds me of those fussy plates Grandma used to have, but way more intense. Editor: Indeed. We're looking at a ceramic plaque, probably earthenware with a fresco finish. The piece, dating to somewhere around 1750 to 1775, depicts a scene inspired by the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Notice the distinct Baroque influences at play. Curator: Baroque on a plate...who knew? Okay, but tell me, what’s Baroque about it? Editor: Observe the elaborate ornamentation around the central image. Also consider the dramatic composition with its emphasis on emotion and dynamic movement. Curator: Mmm, yes, the swirliness of everything does create movement. Tell me more about the composition. I noticed that inside it contains another set of tiny images...like a frame within a frame, right? Editor: Precisely! See how the central scene is bordered by these miniature vignettes that act as a sort of narrative commentary. It guides us to another place entirely. These layers create visual depth. The floor too plays with perspectival recession to create distance. Curator: It makes it look like this party is being thrown inside of someone's jewelry box, you know? But beneath it all...there is that sad moral. Does anyone even think about parables these days, or is it just decor? Editor: The success of these earthenware pieces lay, I suggest, in their easy legibility. By the 18th-century Biblical references had, for some, a primarily decorative significance. Consider this plaque an ancestor to fridge magnets and novelty t-shirts. Curator: Ah, you are probably right! Editor: Indeed! And that interplay, the balance between sacred and domestic, contributes to the richness we can discern. Curator: Whoa. Okay, fridge magnets of the soul. I am taking that one home with me. Thanks!