C8: Maiolica Dish: Medea and Aeson

Circular maiolica dish depicting several scenes from the myth of Medea and Aeson. Green, yellow, brown, black and blue oxides.

This dish was probably made in the workshop of Francesco Durantino in either in Urbino or Monte Bagnolo, near Perugia, in northern Italy. Francesco Durantino was one of the most prolific of the istoriato painters of this period.
The plate depicts several scenes from the myth of Medea and Aeson, recorded in Book Seven of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. This had been printed in 1497 and was both widely read and used by humanist scholars and potters alike. On the reverse is vernacular Italian text which states 'Aeson rejuvenated'. An interest in the great works of the classical world pervaded Renaissance Italy, as those wealthy, educated members of an increasingly urban society looked to their Roman ancestors in the hope of equaling, and indeed exceeding, those earlier cultural achievements.

It is somewhat unusual to show several scenes on one plate (polyscenic). This demonstrates both the skill of the artist in representing the story in this way and also the sophistication of the viewer, who would be expected to recognise each scene and hence re-tell the story.

On the left, Jason is shown with his lover Medea. Prompted by guilt at abandoning her own father and in order to impress Jason, she travelled in her chariot (shown in the top right) to the heavens to collect herbs which she used to rejuvenate Jason’s father, Aeson. He is shown in the centre of the image, coming back to life as a young man with golden hair.

It is likely that the three separate images were traced or based on prints. Medea’s chariot perhaps came from early fifteenth century printed sources, although the exact images have not been located.

It is not known who first owned or commissioned this plate as there are no coats of arms or other references on the plate itself. The myth of Medea was popular in Renaissance Italy and it is likely that this plate formed part of a set, made for an educated and comparatively wealthy owner. Once the food had been eaten and the imagery revealed, the myth could be discussed.