Dish

Although the Italian Renaissance is most famous for its paintings and sculptures, the period also produced masterpieces of ceramic art. The lively, colorful decoration of this dish embodies the creativity and sophistication of these skilled potters. The dish depicts a scene from the Aeneid, the ancient Roman epic poem by Virgil (ca. 70 B.C.E.-ca. 19 B.C.E.). It shows Aeneas, legendary leader of the Trojans and forefather of Rome, making an offering at the tomb of his father. The coat of arms at the top of the dish, bearing the initial “P,” indicates that the piece was made for the Petrobellis, a noble family from the Northern Italian city of Padua.