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The Rape of Europa: C.80-1927

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Object information

Current Location: Gallery 6 (Upper Marlay): case 3, shelf D

Titles

The Rape of Europa

Maker(s)

Workshop: Maestro Giorgio Andreoli (Probably)
Workshop: uncertain (Uncertain)

Entities

Categories

Description

Maiolica plate, painted in polychrome with The Rape of Europa.

Pale buff earthenware, tin-glazed overall; the reverse pale beige and speckled. A small area on the base has crawled, revealing cream fabric. Painted in blue, green, yellow, orange, stone, dark brown, grey, black, and white; red, silvery-yellow, and on the back, pale yellow lustre. Shape approximately 55 but much shallower, with two concentric grooves under the outer edge. Circular with wide rim and shallow depression in the centre.
The Rape of Europa. On the upper left of the rim, Zeus sits on a cloud, accompanied by an eagle. On the right there is a tree, in front of which is a recumbent bull with Europa on its back, placing a garland of flowers round its horns. Opposite there are three cows, two of whom look towards Europa. In the middle she is represented again, being carried out to sea on the bull's back. In the landscape background there are rows of bushes and a city. The middle of the back is dated `1524' in yellow lustre, surrounded by three loose foliated scrolls alternating with three foliated sprays. The edge is yellow.

Notes

History note: Robert Napier from at least 1859 to 1877; Christie's, 5 June 1877, Catalogue of the celebrated assemblage of works of art and vertu known as the Shandon Collection, formed during the last half-century by that well-known amateur Robert Napier, Esq. deceased, late of Glasgow, lot 2660, sold to Wetterhan. Durlacher Bros, London, from whom purchased by F. Leverton Harris.

Legal notes

F. Leverton Harris Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 25.5 cm
Height: 2.5 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Gubbio ⪼ Umbria ⪼ Italy
  • Urbino ⪼ The Marches ⪼ Italy

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1926) by Harris, Frederick Leverton

Dating

16th Century
Renaissance
Production date: dated AD 1524

Note

Either Urbino, lustred at Gubbio in the workshop of Maestro Giorgio Andreoli, or more probably, made and lustred at Gubbio, dated 1524.

School or Style

Renaissance

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colours ( blue, green, yellow, orange, stone, dark brown, grey, black, and white) reduced pigment lustre ( copper appearing red) reduced pigment lustre ( silvery-yellow and pale yellow lustre)

Materials used in production

beige on the back Tin-glaze
buff Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Moulding : Pale buff earthenware, tin-glazed overall; the reverse pale beige and speckled. A small area on the base has crawled, revealing cream fabric. Painted in blue, green, yellow, orange, stone, dark brown, grey, black, and white; red, silvery-yellow, and on the back, pale yellow lustre.
Painting
Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 1524
  • Location: On the back
  • Method of creation: Painted in lustre
  • Type: Date

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.80-1927
Primary reference Number: 79940
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Saturday 14 March 2020 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "The Rape of Europa" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/79940 Accessed: 2024-03-29 01:19:33

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/79940 |title=The Rape of Europa |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-29 01:19:33|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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