Art and Love in Renaissance Italy - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two-Handled Vase with the Arms of Medici Impaling Orsini

Hide caption

Two-Handled Vase with the Arms of Medici Impaling Orsini
Florentine region (perhaps Montelupo), 1470–80
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); H. 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm), foot damaged and repaired
Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of the Women's Committee with additional funds from Robert H. Tannahill, 1937 (37.74)

Bowl with the Arms and Devices of Pope Leo X and of Families Allied by Marriage with the Medici

Hide caption

Bowl with the Arms and Devices of Pope Leo X and of Families Allied by Marriage with the Medici
Tuscany, Montelupo, possibly Sartori workshop, 1513–21
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); H. 8 1/8 in. (20.5 cm), Diam. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm)
Inscribed: SENPUR; SUAVE; DIVINA PONTETIA; SUMUS VIVIMUS; RENOVABITUR
The British Museum, London (1855.1201.76)

Low-Footed Bowl with Bust of a Woman

Hide caption

Low-Footed Bowl with Bust of a Woman
Urbino or Castel Durante, ca. 1530
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); Diam. 8 1/2 in. (21.5 cm)
Inscribed: LIVIA BELLA
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Robert Lehman Collection, 1975 (1975.1.1084)

Inkstand with Busts of a Couple and Fede Motif and Inscription

Hide caption

Inkstand with Busts of a Couple and Fede Motif and Inscription
Probably Faenza, ca. 1500
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); 3 1/4 x 7 7/8 x 11 in. (8.2 x 20 x 27.9 cm)
Inscribed: IO.TE.DO.LA.MANE / DAME.LA.FEDE
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, John H. and Ernestine A. Payne Fund (56.310)

Plate with Fede Motif

Hide caption

Plate with Fede Motif
Emilia-Romagna, Faenza, ca. 1490–1510
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); Diam. 11 1/4 in. (28.5 cm)
Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia (Wilson-Sani 20)

Fluted Bowl (<i>Crespina</i>) with an Allegory of Unrequited Love

Fluted Bowl (Crespina) with an Allegory of Unrequited Love

Hide caption

Fluted Bowl (Crespina) with an Allegory of Unrequited Love
Faenza, possibly workshop of Virgiliotto Calamelli, dated 1538 twice on the border
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); Diam. 10 7/8 in. (27.5 cm)
Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia (Wilson-Sani 27)

Wineglass or Sweetmeat Cup (<i>Confittiera</i>) with Scenes of Virgil and Febilla

Wineglass or Sweetmeat Cup (Confittiera) with Scenes of Virgil and Febilla

Hide caption

Wineglass or Sweetmeat Cup (Confittiera) with Scenes of Virgil and Febilla
Venice, ca. 1475–1500
Glass, enameled and gilded; H. 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm), W. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
Inscribed: VERBLIO; VENITE
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.730a,b)

Ring with Names (Wedding Ring)

Hide caption

Ring with Names (Wedding Ring)
Northern Italy, 15th century
Gold set with faceted diamond, black enameled script on shoulders; Diam. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)
Inscribed: LORENSO A LENA LENA
The British Museum, London (AF 1090)

Jewel with Gold Letters Spelling "Amor"

Hide caption

Jewel with Gold Letters Spelling "Amor"
Franco-Flemish, mid-15th century
Gold, pearls, diamond, emerald paste; 1 1/8 x 15/16 in. (2.9 x 2.4 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, 1957 (57.26.1)

Coffer

Hide caption

Coffer
Siena (?), 15th century
Walnut, leather, gesso, painted and gilded; 8 1/8 x 24 3/4 x 8 in. (20.6 x 63 x 20.2 cm)
Inscribed: ONESSTÀ FA BELLA DONNA
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of George Blumenthal, 1941 (41.100.188)

Mandora or Chitarino

Hide caption

Mandora or Chitarino
Northern Italy, Milan (?), ca. 1420
Boxwood, rosewood; 14 1/8 x 3 3/4 x 3 1/8 in. (36 x 9.6 x 8 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964 (64.101.1409)

Dovizia

Hide caption

Dovizia
Florence, late 15th–early 16th century
Glazed terracotta; H. 28 in. (71.1 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, From the Collection of James Stillman, Gift of Dr. Ernest G. Stillman, 1922 (22.16.6)

Velvet Fragments with Medici Arms

Hide caption

Velvet Fragments with Medici Arms
Florence or Venice, 1440–1500
Silk, metal thread; 31 x 21 in. (78.7 x 53.3 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Fletcher Fund, 1946 (46.156.118)

Cassone with The Conquest of Trebizond

Hide caption

Marco del Buono Giamberti (Florentine, 1402–1489) and Apollonio di Giovanni di Tomaso (Florentine, 1415/17–1465)
Cassone with The Conquest of Trebizond
Florence, 1460s
Tempera, gold, and silver on wood; distemper on inner lid, 39 1/2 x 77 x 32 7/8 in. (100.3 x 195.6 x 83.5 cm)
Inscribed at left, on city walls: GO[N]STANTINOPOLI (Constantinople); at left, within city walls: S FRA[N]CES/CO ([church of] San Francesco); upper left, within city walls: S. SOFIA. ([church of] Santa Sophia) DEILO.PER . . . ORI ([undeciphered]; at left center, on city walls: PERA. (Pera [formerly Galata]); on Bosporus: LOSTRETTO. (strait); at center, on city walls: LOSCUTARIO (Scutari [present-day Üsküdar]); farther back: CHASTEL NVOVO (new fortress [Rumeli Hisari]); at right, on city walls: TREBIZOND[A] (Trebizond [present-day Trabzon]); next to conqueror: TAN[B]VRLANA (Tamerlane)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1914 (14.39)

Inner Lid from a Cassone with Venus Reclining on Pillows

Hide caption

Paolo di Stefano Badaloni, called Paolo Schiavo (b. Florence, 1397–d. Pisa, 1478)
Inner Lid from a Cassone with Venus Reclining on Pillows
Florence, 1440–45
Tempera on panel; 20 x 67 in. (50.8 x 170.2 cm) without frame
Museo Privato Bellini, Florence (182)

Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

Hide caption

Francesco Colonna
Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (The Strife of Love in a Dream of Poliphilo)
Couple Embracing (Book 2, C5V)Venice: Aldus Manutius, December 1499
Printed book with woodcut illustrations; design of woodcuts attributed to Benedetto Bordone (Padua, ca. 1455/60–Padua, 1530)Bound volume: 11 3/8 x 8 1/2 in. (29 x 21.5 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1923 (23.73.1)

De gli habiti antichi et moderni di diverse parti del mondo libri due

Hide caption

Cesare Vecellio (b. Pieve di Cadore, ca. 1521–d. Venice, 1601)
De gli habiti antichi et moderni di diverse parti del mondo libri due . . . (Of Ancient and Modern Dress of Diverse Parts of the World in Two Books . . . )
Spose Sposate (Book 1, 126)Venice: Damiano Zenaro, 1590
Printed book with woodcuts by Christoph Krieger (Cristoforo Guerra; b. Nuremberg–d. Venice, ca. 1590); 6 5/8 x 5 1/8 x 2 in. (16.7 x 12.5 x 5.2 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1906, transferred from the Library (21.36.146)

Childbirth Tray (<i>Desco da Parto</i>) with a Confinement-Room Scene (recto) and Urinating Putto (verso)

Childbirth Tray (Desco da Parto) with a Confinement-Room Scene (recto) and Urinating Putto (verso)

Hide caption

Bartolomeo di Fruosino, Florentine, 1366/69–1441
Childbirth Tray (Desco da Parto) with a Confinement-Room Scene (recto) and Urinating Putto (verso)
Florence, 1428
Tempera on panel; 23 1/4 in. (59 cm)
Inscribed on front: QUESTO SI FE A DI XXV DAPRILE NEL MILLE QUATTROCENTO VENTOTTO (This was made on the 25th of April, 1428); on reverse: FACCIA IDDIO SANA OGNI DONNA CHFFIGLIA EPADRI LORO . . . RO . . . ERNATO SIA SANZA NOIA ORICHDIA ISONO UNBANBOLIN CHESULI . . . A DIMORO FO LAPISCIA DARIENTO EDORO (May God give health to every woman who gives birth and to the child's father . . . may [the child] be born without fatigue or danger. I am a baby who lives on a [rock] . . . and I make urine of silver and gold.)
Private collection (on loan to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York [L.1995.17])

Childbirth Tray (<i>Desco da Parto</i>) with The Triumph of Fame (recto) and Medici and Tornabuoni Arms and Devices (verso)

Childbirth Tray (Desco da Parto) with The Triumph of Fame (recto) and Medici and Tornabuoni Arms and Devices (verso)

Hide caption

Giovanni di Ser Giovanni Guidi, called Lo Scheggia (Florentine, 1406–1486)
Childbirth Tray (Desco da Parto) with The Triumph of Fame (recto) and Medici and Tornabuoni Arms and Devices (verso)
Florence, ca. 1448
Tempera, silver, and gold on panel; Diam., overall, 36 1/2 in. (92.7 cm); recto, painted surface, 24 5/8 in. (62.5 cm); verso, painted surface, 29 5/8 in. (75.2 cm)
Inscribed: SEMPER
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase in memory of Sir John Pope-Hennessy; Rogers Fund, The Annenberg Foundation, Drue Heinz Foundation, Annette de la Renta, Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Richardson, and The Vincent Astor Foundation Gifts, Wrightsman and Gwynne Andrews Funds, special funds, and Gift of the children of Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Logan, and other gifts and bequests, by exchange, 1995 (1995.7)

Childbirth Bowl (<i>Tafferia da Parto</i>) with The Naming of John the Baptist (interior) and Della Casa and Tornaquinci Arms (exterior)

Childbirth Bowl (Tafferia da Parto) with The Naming of John the Baptist (interior) and Della Casa and Tornaquinci Arms (exterior)

Hide caption

Jacopo Pontormo (Florentine, 1494–1557)
Childbirth Bowl (Tafferia da Parto) with The Naming of John the Baptist (interior) and Della Casa and Tornaquinci Arms (exterior)
Florence, 1526–27
Oil on panel; Diam. 21 1/4 in. (54 cm)
Inscribed: IO
Galleria degli Uffizi, Istituti Museali della Soprintendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale Fiorentino, Florence (1890 n. 1532)

Childbirth Bowl (<i>Scodella</i>) and Tray (<i>Tagliere</i>) with Confinement-Chamber Scenes and Landscape

Childbirth Bowl (Scodella) and Tray (Tagliere) with Confinement-Chamber Scenes and Landscape

Hide caption

Childbirth Bowl (Scodella) and Tray (Tagliere) with Confinement-Chamber Scenes and Landscape
Castel Durante, ca. 1525–30
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); bowl: H. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm), Diam. 6 7/8 in. (17.6 cm); tray: H. 1 1/2 in. (3.7 cm), Diam. 8 in. (20.2 cm)
The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore (48.1333.a,b)

Cradle

Hide caption

Cradle
Italy, 16th century
Carved walnut, gilding, polychromy; 35 x 41 x 22 in. (88.9 x 104.1 x 55.9 cm)
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Purchased with the John D. McIlhenny Fund (2000.117.1)

Apollo and Cyparissus or Apollo and Hyacinth

Hide caption

Giulio Pippi, called Giulio Romano (b. Rome, ca. 1499–d. Mantua, 1546)
Apollo and Cyparissus or Apollo and Hyacinth, 1520s
Pen and brown ink, brown wash; 11 3/8 x 9 1/8 in. (28.9 x 23.2 cm)
Nationalmuseum, Stockholm (347/1863)

Phallic-Head Plate

Hide caption

Phallic-Head Plate, 1536
Gubbio, Workshop of Maestro Giorgio Andreoli (?), 1536
Inscribed in reverse on banderole: OGNI HOMO ME GUARDA COME FOSSE UNA TESTA DE CAZI (Every man looks at me as if I were a dickhead); on back: 1536 / EL BREVE DENTRO VOI LEGERITE COME I GUIDEI SE INTENDER EL VORITE (If you want to understand the meaning, you will be able to read the text like the Jews do); also inscribed with painter's mark FR and a pair of scales
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); Diam. 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm)
The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Purchased (France, Madan, and Miller Funds) with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Resource / V & A Purchase Grant Fund, and numerous private donors, 2003 (WA2003.136)

Satyr and Satyress

Hide caption

Attributed to Desiderío da Firenze (Florentine, documented in Padua 1532–45)
Satyr and Satyress, after 1524 (?)
Bronze, H. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm)
Musée National de la Renaissance, Château d'Écouen (E.CI. 2752a, b)

Chopines

Hide caption

Chopines
Venice, ca. 1600
Beige leather, silk, and wood, decorated with stamped and pierced designs and small silk-floss pompoms; L. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Irene Lewisohn Bequest, 1973 (1973.114.4 a,b)

Portrait of a Woman and a Man at a Casement

Hide caption

Fra Filippo Lippi (b. Florence, ca. 1406–d. Spoleto, 1469)
Portrait of a Woman and a Man at a Casement, ca. 1440–44
Tempera on panel; 25 1/4 x 16 1/2 in. (64.1 x 41.9 cm)
Inscribed on edge of woman's cuff: LEALT[À]
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Marquand Collection, Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1889 (89.15.19)

Portrait Bust of Beatrice of Aragon

Hide caption

Francesco Laurana (b. Vrana, near Zara (now Zadar, Croatia), ca. 1420–d. Avignon, ca. 1502)
Portrait Bust of Beatrice of Aragon, ca. 1474–75
Marble; 16 x 15 7/8 x 8 in. (40.6 x 40.4 x 20.3 cm)
Inscribed on tablet: DIVA BEATRIX / ARAGONIA
The Frick Collection, New York (1961.2.86)

The Adimari Cassone

Hide caption

Giovanni di Ser Giovanni Guidi, called Lo Scheggia (Florentine, 1406–1486)
The Adimari Cassone, ca. 1443–50
Tempera on panel; with frame 34 7/8 in. x 9 ft. 11 1/4 in. (88.5 x 303 cm)
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence (8457)

The Banquet in the Pinewoods: Scene Three of The Story of Nastagio degli Onesti

Hide caption

Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi) (Florentine, 1444/45–1510) and Workshop, probably Bartolomeo di Giovanni (Florentine, act. ca. 1475–ca. 1500/1505)
The Banquet in the Pinewoods: Scene Three of The Story of Nastagio degli Onesti, 1483
Tempera on panel; 33 1/8 x 56 in. (84 x 142 cm)
Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid (2840)

The Betrothal of Jason and Medea

Hide caption

Biagio d'Antonio (Florentine, 1446–1516)
The Betrothal of Jason and Medea, 1487
Tempera on panel; 32 5/8 x 64 3/8 in. (83 x 163.4 cm)
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris (PE 102)

Portrait of a Woman (Laura)

Hide caption

Giorgione (b. Castelfranco Veneto, 1477/78–d. Venice, 1510)
Portrait of a Woman (Laura), 1506
Oil on canvas mounted on panel; 16 1/8 x 13 1/4 in. (41 x 33.6 cm)
Inscribed on back: 1506 ADI PRIMO ZUGNO FO FATTO QUESTO DE MA[NO] DE MAISTRO ZORZI DA CHASTEL FR[ANCO] CHOLEGA DE MAISTRO VIZENZO CHAENA AD INSTANZIA DE MIS[SER] GIAC[OMO] . . .
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie, Vienna (31)

Venus and Cupid

Hide caption

Lorenzo Lotto (b. Venice, ca. 1480–d. Loreto, 1556)
Venus and Cupid, late 1520s
Oil on canvas, 36 7/8 x 43 7/8 in. (92.4 x 111.4 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Mrs. Charles Wrightsman Gift, in honor of Marietta Tree, 1986 (1986.138)

Venus Blindfolding Cupid

Hide caption

Tiziano Vecellio, called Titian (b. Pieve di Cadore, ca. 1488–d. Venice, 1576)
Venus Blindfolding Cupid, ca. 1565
Oil on canvas, 45 5/8 x 72 1/2 in. (116 x 184 cm)
Borghese Gallery, Rome (170)