made in Italy
This maiolica dish was made in 1527 in Italy. It was possibly made at the workshop of Guido Durantino at Urbino and lustred at Gubbio by Maestro Giorgio Andreoli.
The dish is painted in colours with 'Hercules slaying the Centaur Nessus' from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The underside is inscribed: '1527 Mo oG daugubio' [Maestro Giorgio of Gubbio].
The centaur Nessus helped Hercules and his new bride, Deianira, cross the swollen River Evenus. Hercules threw his club and bow across the river before crossing himself. Whilst unarmed, Nessus tried to steal Deianira from him. Hercules soon rescued her. Nessus paid for his folly with his life, shot in the back in revenge by Hercules with a barbed arrow.
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