Cistern 1545 - 1599

"Cistern" is a maiolica bowl by Marcantonio Raimondi, a prominent Italian printmaker and designer. The bowl, decorated with a lively scene of figures in a landscape, is a testament to the 16th-century Italian artistic fascination with classical mythology and the use of the grotesque in decorative arts. Its distinct serpentine handles, colorful enamel glaze, and elaborate composition are characteristic of the maiolica pottery of the period. The "Cistern" is a prime example of the exquisite craftsmanship and artistic sensibilities that defined Renaissance Italian art.