Plate

Add to album

This maiolica plate was made at Urbino in Italy between 1530 and 1535 by Nicolo Pellipario.

The plate is decorated in polychrome with a depiction of 'The Abduction of Proserpine' from Ovid's Metamorphoses, and a shield of arms. It is inscribed on the back 'de pluto e proserpina' [of Pluto and Proserpine]. Pluto abducted Proserpine as she was picking violets by Lake Pergus. The Sicilian nymph Cyane tried to stop Pluto and he hurled his royal sceptre into Cyane's pool, opening the ground and making a pathway to the depths of the underworld.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-190-004-708-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1877.20.94
• Date: 1530 - 1535
  Between 1530 and 1535
  
• Material: Earthenware. Inscription: de plutu e proserpina
  
• Dimensions: 19 mm H x 268 mm D
  
• What:
• Subject: Ceramics : earthenware : Italy : Urbino
  
• Who: Nicola Pellipario (Possible maker)
  Shandon Collection (Previous owner)
  
• Where: Italy, Urbino
  
• Event:
• Description: Maiolica plate decorated in polychrome with "The Abduction of Proserpine" and a shield of arms: Italian, Urbino, probably the same workshop as the Milan Marsyas painter, 1530 - 1535
  
• References:
  • Curnow, Celia, Italian Maiolica in the National Museums of Scotland. Edinburgh: NMS, 1992 
• Translations:
• Related Records: